‘Playing with Paul Pogba is a Dream!’

Ansu Fati Hopes for a Great Year Alongside New Monaco Team-Mate as Both Stars Aim to Relaunch Careers in Ligue 1

In the shimmering Mediterranean sunshine of Monaco, a new footballing chapter is being written—one full of promise, redemption, and unexpected alliances. Ansu Fati, once hailed as the next great star of Spanish football, has landed in Ligue 1 with AS Monaco, and his enthusiasm could hardly be more palpable. His reason? Sharing the pitch—and a dressing room—with Paul Pogba, a player he has admired since boyhood.

“I’ve admired him since I was little,” said Fati during his official unveiling. “My friends’ idol was always Paul Pogba. Now I get to play with him—it’s a dream.”

Two players. One club. And a season that could define the next phase of their careers.

WHAT HAPPENED?

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Fati Joins Monaco on Loan as Paul Pogba Arrives on a Free Transfer

This summer, AS Monaco took bold steps in the transfer market, adding two high-profile names whose careers have veered off course in recent years. First came Paul Pogba, who signed a contract until 2027 after his release from Juventus. Then came Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, with a €11 million buy option attached.

Neither signing is without risk. Fati has struggled to regain consistency after a string of injuries derailed his rapid rise at Barcelona. His loan spell at Brighton last season showed only glimpses of the explosive talent that once earned him the fabled No. 10 shirt at Camp Nou. Paul Pogba, meanwhile, hasn’t played competitive football in nearly a year, dealing with a combination of injuries and off-pitch complications—including a doping ban that kept him sidelined.

But Monaco, under manager Adi Hütter, aren’t backing away from the challenge. Instead, they’re doubling down on potential, betting that the fire still burns bright in two players who have known both glory and disappointment at an early age.

ANSU FATI: THE BOY WHO GREW UP WATCHING Paul POGBA

For Ansu Fati, the move to Monaco feels like more than just a career choice—it’s personal. In speaking to the press, Fati didn’t hide his admiration for Paul Pogba, calling the Frenchman a “childhood idol” and admitting that his La Masia teammates often looked up to the World Cup winner.

“I’m going to play with him,” said Fati with a smile. “Sharing the dressing room with him is a pleasure.”

That sense of awe is telling. Fati, now 22, is no longer a wide-eyed teenager. He’s played at the Camp Nou, been capped by Spain, and carried the burden of expectation since he was 16. And yet, standing next to Paul Pogba, he still sounds like a fan.

There’s something beautiful in that humility—and perhaps, in this return to football’s emotional roots, lies a key to rediscovering his best form.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A Fresh Start for Two Talented but Wounded Stars

Monaco’s double swoop represents more than just smart recruitment—it signals a change in philosophy. In a world of over-hyped wonderkids and overpriced journeymen, signing Fati and Paul Pogba feels almost retro. These are players who have nothing to prove in terms of talent, but everything to prove in terms of resilience.

Fati arrives after making just 11 appearances for Barcelona last season. His loan spell at Brighton was hampered by yet another hamstring injury, and while he showed flashes of brilliance, he never fully settled in the Premier League. For a player once tipped to be Lionel Messi’s heir, the journey has been anything but linear.

Pogba’s story is no less complex. Once the most expensive player in the world, he returned to Juventus in 2022, but never found consistency. Injuries and a high-profile suspension meant he became more of a headline than a player. At 31, his star has dimmed in the eyes of many—but not, it seems, in Fati’s.

“I’m very happy for him,” Fati said. “The football world is happy that he’s back. Everyone knows what a great player he is—for his clubs and his country. We hope to have a great year together.”

POGBA’S RETURN: INDIVIDUAL TRAINING, BUT SHARED GOALS

While Fati has already joined full training with the Monaco squad, Paul Pogba is still training individually, working closely with medical staff to rebuild fitness. Though there’s no official timeline for his return to match action, club sources say Paul Pogba is highly motivated and determined to be back before the end of summer.

His impact, even in recovery, is already being felt.

“Paul has been a presence around the training ground,” said one Monaco insider. “He speaks with the younger players, encourages them, jokes with them. For someone who hasn’t kicked a ball in months, he’s been incredibly uplifting.”

And that’s the intangible value Paul Pogba brings. Monaco have a young, dynamic squad, many of whom grew up watching Paul Pogba win the World Cup in 2018. His experience is a priceless asset in the dressing room, especially for someone like Fati, who seems genuinely inspired to share the field with him.

MONACO’S TRANSFER STRATEGY: SMART RISK, HIGH CEILING

Add in Eric Dier, who also joined Monaco this summer, and you get a picture of a club trying to balance experience and promise. Adi Hütter’s system demands flexibility and positional intelligence—two traits that both Paul Pogba and Fati possess in abundance when fit.

Monaco finished third in Ligue 1 last season, falling just short of a title push. With PSG in transition and other contenders rebuilding, this could be a golden opportunity to challenge seriously.

To do so, they’ll need their gamble to pay off.

WHAT NEXT FOR MONACO?

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Redemption, Reputation, and Results

Both Fati and Paul Pogba know what’s at stake this season. This is not just a comeback—it’s a potential career relaunch.

For Fati, the goal is clear: play regular football, stay fit, and rebuild the confidence that once made him one of the most exciting teenagers in world football. A successful year in Ligue 1 could see him return to Barcelona or earn a permanent move, finally free of the injury cloud that’s followed him for years.

For Pogba, it’s about proving he still belongs at the top. After nearly a year away from the pitch, many have written him off. But those close to him insist he’s hungrier than ever. Monaco offers him not just a club, but a clean slate—a chance to remind the world of his genius.

FINAL WHISTLE: TWO STARS, ONE SHARED DESTINY

Football loves a redemption arc. And in Ansu Fati and Paul Pogba, Monaco may have found not just two individual stories—but a shared one.

Two careers at a crossroads. One club offering hope. And a league that just might be the perfect backdrop for a pair of once-golden talents to shine again.

Whether this ends in revival or regret, one thing is certain: watching these two take the field together will be must-see football.

And for Ansu Fati, the boy who once looked up to Paul Pogba from the halls of La Masia, it really is a dream come true.