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FIFA approved Paul Pogba transfer after Ligue 1 club settled dispute with Manchester United
Paul Pogba is closing in on a transfer to his first club not involving either Manchester United or Juventus in 15 years this summer. The Frenchman is in talks to join Monaco, but a return to his homeland is proving as complicated as it was when he left as a teen. Pogba is in talks with Monaco over a return to footballGetty He is yet to make a competitive appearance for a club in his home countryFlash Press Pogba, who has been without a club since leaving Juve for a second time in December, has been free to return to action since March. The 32-year-old has served an 18-month ban for doping offences and is now considering multiple clubs to help him rebuild his career. Pogba, who was slapped with a four-year suspension before it was reduced, has held talks with Monaco over a two-year deal. The World Cup winner is understood to be giving the offer serious consideration as he is keen to make his comeback at an elite club. Adi Hutter’s side will compete in next season’s Champions League following a third-placed finish in Ligue 1. A move to Monaco would represent his first return to French club football since leaving Le Havre for Man United as a 16-year-old. However, there is expected to be less red tape involving a deal surrounding his transfer, having left Juventus by mutual consent. That was in stark contrast to the way in which Pogba departed Le Havre, who also honed the talents of Riyad Mahrez and Dimitri Payet. Le Club Doyen swooped to add a 14-year-old Pogba to their academy in 2007 after he’d spent a single season with sixth-tier Torcy. Franck Sale, former head of recruitment at Le Havre, told the BBC: “There were lots of other clubs interested, but not many got the opportunity to go and see him play, because we were quick off the mark. We discovered him quite early. Of course, Paris Saint-Germain could see him because he was in the suburbs of Paris. United kept tabs on Pogba on France U16 duty in 2009, where he battled now-Brighton boss Fabian HurzelerGetty “There were already a few foreign clubs looking, but not many of them. That’s where we were lucky. We did all that was needed for him to sign up with us – it went very, very quickly. “I asked him to sign up when we were at his dad’s in Paris. His dad was absolutely adorable. We talked a lot about African football, especially Guinean football, and we ended up talking so much about football we nearly forgot to talk about the whole reason we were there, which was to get Paul’s contract signed! “We had to wake Paul up and we signed the contract at 5am.” Pogba rose through the ranks at Le Havre, which saw him represent his country at every youth level and captain France Under-16s. It was during a France youth-level tour to Scotland that he ended up on Man United’s radar, and the club poached him in August 2009. Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel claimed the Red Devils lured Pogba with the promise of £15,500-a-month house when he turned 17 the following year, and payments of €100,000 (£87,000) each to his separated parents. Le Havre initially challenged Man United’s approach for PogbaGetty - Contributor Pogba played for United across two spells, having spent time in the club’s academy A statement – under the heading ‘Manchester United steal Paul Pogba from HAC (Le Havre)’ – on the club’s website said: “Le Havre wishes to express its indignation regarding the dealings of Manchester United’s directors in relation to the young Paul Pogba. “The player and his parents refused to keep the arrangement because Manchester United offered very high sums of money to the parents of the (player) with the aim of obtaining the transfer of their son. “At a time when numerous parties – including at European Union level, governmental (level), or within Fifa or Uefa – are speaking out against the ‘trading of minors,’ Manchester United does not hesitate to uproot a 16-year-old kid. “This act is even more unacceptable as it comes from a club with such stature.” But a United spokesman told BBC Sport: “It is complete nonsense. Everything has been done within UEFA guidelines.” Le Havre reported Pogba’s case to FIFA, who had just handed Chelsea a two-year transfer ban, which was later lifted, over their recruitment of Gael Kakuta from a different French side. Pogba is keen to secure a place in France’s 2026 World Cup squadGetty They had argued that Pogba had signed an ‘accord de non-sollicitation’ agreement, by which a player effectively agrees to sign a professional contract at a later date. However, United argued that such an agreement is not legally enforceable and, therefore, Pogba did not have a deal in place. The club’s stance was upheld by a FIFA-appointed judge ruling on the case in October 2009. “Manchester United is pleased to confirm that the Football Association has been authorised by Fifa to register Paul Pogba as a Manchester United player with immediate effect,” said a
Paul Pogba is closing in on a transfer to his first club not involving either Manchester United or Juventus in 15 years this summer.
The Frenchman is in talks to join Monaco, but a return to his homeland is proving as complicated as it was when he left as a teen.
Pogba, who has been without a club since leaving Juve for a second time in December, has been free to return to action since March.
The 32-year-old has served an 18-month ban for doping offences and is now considering multiple clubs to help him rebuild his career.
Pogba, who was slapped with a four-year suspension before it was reduced, has held talks with Monaco over a two-year deal.
The World Cup winner is understood to be giving the offer serious consideration as he is keen to make his comeback at an elite club.
Adi Hutter’s side will compete in next season’s Champions League following a third-placed finish in Ligue 1.
A move to Monaco would represent his first return to French club football since leaving Le Havre for Man United as a 16-year-old.
However, there is expected to be less red tape involving a deal surrounding his transfer, having left Juventus by mutual consent.
That was in stark contrast to the way in which Pogba departed Le Havre, who also honed the talents of Riyad Mahrez and Dimitri Payet.
Le Club Doyen swooped to add a 14-year-old Pogba to their academy in 2007 after he’d spent a single season with sixth-tier Torcy.
Franck Sale, former head of recruitment at Le Havre, told the BBC: “There were lots of other clubs interested, but not many got the opportunity to go and see him play, because we were quick off the mark. We discovered him quite early. Of course, Paris Saint-Germain could see him because he was in the suburbs of Paris.
“There were already a few foreign clubs looking, but not many of them. That’s where we were lucky. We did all that was needed for him to sign up with us – it went very, very quickly.
“I asked him to sign up when we were at his dad’s in Paris. His dad was absolutely adorable. We talked a lot about African football, especially Guinean football, and we ended up talking so much about football we nearly forgot to talk about the whole reason we were there, which was to get Paul’s contract signed!
“We had to wake Paul up and we signed the contract at 5am.”
Pogba rose through the ranks at Le Havre, which saw him represent his country at every youth level and captain France Under-16s.
It was during a France youth-level tour to Scotland that he ended up on Man United’s radar, and the club poached him in August 2009.
Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel claimed the Red Devils lured Pogba with the promise of £15,500-a-month house when he turned 17 the following year, and payments of €100,000 (£87,000) each to his separated parents.
A statement – under the heading ‘Manchester United steal Paul Pogba from HAC (Le Havre)’ – on the club’s website said: “Le Havre wishes to express its indignation regarding the dealings of Manchester United’s directors in relation to the young Paul Pogba.
“The player and his parents refused to keep the arrangement because Manchester United offered very high sums of money to the parents of the (player) with the aim of obtaining the transfer of their son.
“At a time when numerous parties – including at European Union level, governmental (level), or within Fifa or Uefa – are speaking out against the ‘trading of minors,’ Manchester United does not hesitate to uproot a 16-year-old kid.
“This act is even more unacceptable as it comes from a club with such stature.”
But a United spokesman told BBC Sport: “It is complete nonsense. Everything has been done within UEFA guidelines.”
Le Havre reported Pogba’s case to FIFA, who had just handed Chelsea a two-year transfer ban, which was later lifted, over their recruitment of Gael Kakuta from a different French side.
They had argued that Pogba had signed an ‘accord de non-sollicitation’ agreement, by which a player effectively agrees to sign a professional contract at a later date.
However, United argued that such an agreement is not legally enforceable and, therefore, Pogba did not have a deal in place.
The club’s stance was upheld by a FIFA-appointed judge ruling on the case in October 2009.
“Manchester United is pleased to confirm that the Football Association has been authorised by Fifa to register Paul Pogba as a Manchester United player with immediate effect,” said a statement released by the club.
Le Havre vowed to keep on fighting, but in June 2010, confirmed they have settled their dispute with the Premier League giants.
The then-Ligue 2 side said in a statement that both sides were ‘satisfied to have reached an agreement regarding Paul Pogba’s integration to the Manchester United squad.’
Since then, the midfielder has made 423 senior club appearances for Juventus and United, scoring 73 goals and providing 90 assists.
Fall outs with Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho meant controversy continued to follow Pogba’s transfers – but this time, for the first time, Monaco may finally be the club to make him feel at home.
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