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Pogba considers MLS or Saudi move as Monaco exit nears

·By Junior Yekini
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Pogba considers MLS or Saudi move as Monaco exit nears

Monaco/X.com

Paul Pogba's already troubled Monaco spell is coming to an early end, with the France World Cup winner now weighing a next chapter in Major League Soccer or Saudi Arabia.

According to L'Équipe, the 33-year-old midfielder and his entourage are already in discussions with clubs in the MLS and the Saudi Pro League, with Sports Illustrated reporting specific interest from LAFC, Sporting Kansas City, CF Montréal, New York City FC, Colorado Rapids and Inter Miami.

The move away from Monaco, where his contract runs to 2027, looks set to be finalised imminently after a spell in Ligue 1 that never came close to matching expectations.

A recent thigh injury sustained in training has complicated the timing of any switch, with Pogba having collapsed in pain during a small-sided training match before an MRI confirmed the extent of the problem.

It capped a wretched run of fitness setbacks since his return from an 18-month doping ban, during which the 2018 World Cup winner made only a handful of appearances in Monaco colours, well short of the redemption arc the club and player had envisioned when he signed as a free agent last year.

Monaco had already indicated their intention to part ways with Pogba before the latest injury, with the club reportedly ready to terminate his contract rather than see out the remainder of the deal.

Once the paperwork is finalised, Pogba will need to decide between a fresh adventure across the Atlantic, a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia, or the far less appealing prospect of his playing career simply petering out, given how limited his recent opportunities to prove his fitness have been.

Pogba joined Monaco last summer hoping to rebuild his career in his home country for the first time as a professional, having previously spent his career entirely at Manchester United and Juventus.

Persistent injuries, first to his knee and now his thigh, meant he featured only sparingly, and reports in France suggest the club had grown resigned to the arrangement not working out well before this latest setback effectively confirmed the decision.

Any resolution will also need to settle the financial terms of his exit, with Monaco expected to negotiate a payout covering the remainder of his contract.