Monaco’s Bold Move Deepens Pogba’s Woes Ahead of Big Playoff Showdowns
4 February 2026
Monaco deepens Pogba's woes with a bold roster decision
The Monaco club stunned the French star Paul Pogba, worsening his prospects for the remainder of the season.
According to Foot Mercato, Pogba was left out of Monaco's squad for the Champions League knockout stage after missing this season's group stage.
The move raises questions about his fitness, since the Frenchman has not played for nearly two months.
With Monaco qualifying for the Champions League playoff, the club is preparing bold decisions.
As reported by RMC Sport, the principality side plans to review its UEFA-approved squad list for the remainder of the competition.
Pogba remains unavailable, having not taken the field since Monaco's Ligue 1 defeat to Brest in early December, and he logged only about 22 minutes in that spell.
The 2018 World Cup winner sat on the bench in two games against Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, but did not appear as a substitute.
Pogba won’t be the only Monaco out of the squad, as Takumi Minamino and Mohamed Salisu will miss the rest of the season.
Monaco is bracing for the playoff against Paris Saint-Germain on February 17 and 25.
That decision casts a shadow over Pogba’s readiness, with only 30 minutes on the pitch since joining.
The French midfielder remains sidelined by a calf issue, and a return date is still unclear.
Punchline 1: If Pogba’s fitness were a movie, the trailer would say “Coming Soon… Again.”
Punchline 2: Monaco’s bench is now the most competitive squad member—least minutes, most suspense, and zero guarantees of playing time.
