After more than two years away from professional football, Paul Pogba finally returned to the pitch, and his former Manchester United teammate, Bruno Fernandes, couldn’t hide his excitement.
Last Saturday, Pogba made a brief appearance for Monaco in their Ligue 1 clash against Rennes at Roazhon Park, coming on in the 85th minute. By then, Monaco was trailing 4-0 and had been reduced to ten men following a red card for Denis Zakaria.
Pogba’s last official competitive appearance was 811 days ago when he represented Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli. During this long hiatus, the French midfielder faced a challenging period in his career after being suspended for testing positive for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
A Career Pause and Redemption
Pogba emphasized that the incident was an honest mistake, claiming he was unaware that the supplement he had taken contained a banned substance. Subsequently, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his ban to 19 months, allowing him to sign with Monaco during the summer transfer window.
Even though Monaco suffered a 1-4 defeat against Rennes, Pogba’s return captured the attention of football fans worldwide. His comeback was celebrated not only in France but also across social media platforms.
Bruno Fernandes Celebrates Pogba’s Return
Bruno Fernandes, who shared a close bond with Pogba at Manchester United, posted the moment of Pogba’s debut for Monaco on his Instagram Story with the caption simply saying:
“Pogbaaaack”
The heartfelt post resonated with fans, highlighting the emotional significance of Pogba’s return to the field after such a long absence.
Emotional Return to the Pitch
Speaking to France24, Pogba admitted that returning to football was a deeply emotional moment for him:
“Football isn’t over for me. We worked so hard and waited more than two years to come back, and today, it finally happened. Thank God,” he said.
“It was incredibly moving to see the fans stand up and applaud. Honestly, I didn’t expect it, so thank you so much to everyone who came out and supported me today,” Pogba added.
Despite the heavy defeat, Pogba expressed his joy and relief at being back:
“It feels amazing… Paul Pogba is back. I play for Monaco, that’s my team, and I hate losing. I’m just relieved to be back playing the sport I love most in the world.”
The 32-year-old midfielder also acknowledged that there is still work to be done:
“There’s still work to do to get back to full fitness, play 90 minutes, and contribute to the team as best as I can.”
Looking Forward
Pogba’s return marks a significant milestone in his career, signaling that despite setbacks, his passion and dedication to football remain undiminished. Fans and teammates alike are excited to see how he will reintegrate into competitive play and help Monaco climb the Ligue 1 standings.
With his emotional comeback and the support of fellow professionals like Bruno Fernandes, Pogba’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of resilience in the world of football.
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