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New Monaco signing Paul Pogba has revealed he is open to returning to the France national team.
Monaco's new signing, Paul Pogba, was officially presented to the media after signing his contract with the French outfit.
The France international returned to the pitch after serving a four-year doping ban, which ended last year.
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What Pogba said
During the press conference, as reported by Sportal, the midfielder joked about a potential return to the French national team, for which he hasn't played in over three years.
"Yes, of course, I spoke with Didier Deschamps. We talked on the phone, and he said, 'Okay, since you've signed with Monaco, you can come back whenever you want.' No, I'm just kidding," Pogba said with a laugh.
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"Naturally, every French footballer wants to play for the national team. But there are steps to take, and I'm only on the first one. You have to earn your place because the squad is very strong. It's up to me to perform well and deserve my spot."
When asked if he hoped Deschamps would call him up for the 2026 World Cup, the 2018 World Cup winner replied: "Absolutely, but as I said, there are steps. The first is to get back on the pitch and play for my club above all, because you can't get into the French team without playing and performing well at the club level.
"That's the first step, and then we'll see. It's also possible that the coach won't pick me even if I score 30 goals this season. It's primarily about me – playing, performing well, and enjoying myself. Then comes the national team, which, of course, would be a dream come true and a bonus for me."
The 32-year-old also expressed hope that he would be ready to play in Monaco's first match on August 16 against his hometown club, Le Havre, despite his last official match being on September 3, 2023.
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"I hope to be on the pitch; that would be a dream come true. After all, Le Havre was my first club as a youth player. However, I don't have an exact date for my return. I have a very specific, intense program. My body will tell me when I'll resume training and matches. My body took a big hit both physically and mentally. So, it will take time," Pogba admitted.
Monaco's director, Thiago Scuro, directly ruled out the possibility of the midfielder playing in the team's first match. "I can guarantee that he won't play against Le Havre, so he's probably just joking. We have to be honest and realistic.
"We'll wait three months to get him back on the pitch. The intensity is very high, especially in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. It will be difficult for him to play, and our job is to guide him," he assured.
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