Didier Deschamps is refusing to rule out a return to the France team for Paul Pogba - as he does not want to 'look like a fool'
By Lewis Mason
Updated 02/10/2025 at 18:26 GMT+1
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Paul Pogba is closing in on a return to football with Monaco and France manager Didier Deschamps thinks he could play for France again if he is able to prove his form. The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder is working his way back to fitness after a suspension for a failed drugs test - but is yet to play for his new club. He has not featured for France since March 2022.
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Didier Deschamps is refusing to rule out a return to the France national team for Paul Pogba.
The former Manchester United midfielder signed for AS Monaco in the summer after Juventus released him following a positive drugs test.
Pogba's four-year suspension was reduced to 18 months and Monaco took a chance on him returning to his world-beating form of old, which once saw him become football’s most expensive player.
But the Ligue 1 side have been cautious with his return to the pitch and he is still yet to make his debut.
France head coach Deschamps says he is happy to see Pogba putting a difficult period behind him.
"Yes, he is getting closer to the moment when he will become a player in football again. It will be an important step for him," he said.
Pogba has not represented his country since March 2022, when he played in a friendly against South Africa.
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Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps
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He scored in the final against Croatia as France won the 2018 World Cup.
Asked if he can see the midfielder returning to the squad, Deschamps said: "That will depend on him. I have no doubt that he wants it and that it's a goal in his mind.
"He has steps to take, and the next one, after these long weeks of separate training, will be when he puts on the Monaco shirt and steps onto the pitch.
"I hope it happens as soon as possible and that everything goes well for him. Then we'll see.
"He wants it, and if I say yes, Pogba's return is possible, but if I say no, I'll look like a fool, and that's not going to work either.
"All I wish for him is to get through this first step in more than two and a half years. That alone will be a huge joy and happiness for him."
Pogba has said it would be a "dream" to play for France again.
Mateta given first senior call-up
Deschamps is hoping France can keep up their perfect start to World Cup qualifying when they face Azerbaijan (October 10) and Iceland (October 13) this month.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has earned his first senior call-up, while Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike has been included despite coming off injured in his club’s UEFA Champions League defeat against Galatasaray.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Palace manager Oliver Glasner was delighted that Mateta had been recognised on the international stage.
"I'm very pleased for JP," Glasner said. "He deserves this call-up.
"He's scored so many goals for a long period of time and he's doing so well. He's such a lovely guy.
"I spoke about it and congratulated him in front of the team because he deserves it."
Deschamps has a squad full of attacking flair, with Bradley Barcola, Kingsley Coman and captain Kylian Mbappe giving the France manager plenty of options.
Mbappe goes into the international break on the back of a UEFA Champions League hat-trick for Real Madrid against Kairat Almaty and with 13 goals already for his club this season.
"What has changed is that he has legs of fire," Deschamps said. "You can see it, he's confident, and everything is going well in his head too.
"Even when things weren't going so well, it didn't stop him from scoring goals. He exudes a lot of power and speed, so he always made a difference, but now he's doing even more while maintaining his extraordinary efficiency, which is obviously great."
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