Paul Pogba Still Dreams of French National Team Return

French midfielder Paul Pogba insists his long-term ambition remains a return to the national team, despite his spell at Monaco being plagued by injuries. The midfielder has seen limited playing time since restarting his career in France's Ligue 1, but stated that his full recovery and reaching the highest level again remains his immediate priority.

Pogba joined Monaco last summer hoping to revive his career after a nearly three-year hiatus caused by a doping ban and a series of physical issues. However, his comeback has been marred by further fitness problems. The 33-year-old has played in only six matches for Monaco, accumulating just 115 minutes on the pitch. Despite this, he remains focused on establishing consistency before aiming for greater achievements.

Reflecting on his move to Monaco and his absence from the French national team for this year's World Cup, Paul Pogba emphasized that international recognition was never the primary goal behind his return.

"I didn't come to Monaco thinking: 'I'm here to play in the World Cup.' It had been a long time since I'd played. My goal was simply to get back on the field, to get back into good physical shape, and that's all," he commented to L'Equipe newspaper.

However, Pogba made it clear that he has not given up on representing France again. The midfielder believes the key to any national team comeback is first proving himself at club level. "I've come a long way, so it's not like I didn't expect it. What I lacked was rhythm. We won't talk about the technical aspects, because coaches and players see that during training. It's more about the physical side, especially when you've had a series of injuries, including before the ban. I need to feel good. That's what I need to get back to the highest level. The French national team is a bonus. For any player, it's a dream. It's still my dream to continue wearing that jersey. And I have to earn it," Paul Pogba added.