Paul Pogba to link up with ex-Arsenal star praised by Thierry Henry and who hit out at England snub

Paul Pogba is reportedly about to join Monaco after spending nearly two years away from football due to a doping ban, with the former Manchester United and Juventus star set to link up with ex-Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.

Pogba was initially given a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned substance DHEA, but that was reduced to 18 months after he won an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He was free to play again in March, but has yet to join a new club after his contract with Juventus was terminated in November.

French outlet Le Parisien have reported that Pogba is close to signing a two-year contract with Monaco, having made 'significant financial sacrifices' in order to agree a deal. However, when asked about his future on Sergio Aguero's podcast , Pogba said: "I haven't signed anything, but there's interest. We'll see."

If Pogba does end up joining Monaco, he will count a number of fellow former Premier League players as team-mates. This includes Balogun, who joined Monaco from Arsenal back in 2023.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a decent debut campaign, netting eight goals in 32 games across all competitions, but struggled with injury problems last season that limited him to just seven starts.

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However, Balogun is a proven goalscorer in Ligue 1 after netting 21 goals in 37 games during a loan spell at Reims. Balogun later stated that he decided to go to France because he wanted to step out of his comfort zone and challenge himself, with the decision earning him praise from former Arsenal and Monaco star Thierry Henry.

"I'm really happy for him because in general English players don't go abroad – normally players are loaned either to another Premier League side or in the Championship," Henry said on Prime Video in 2022.

"He's a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing. He's now starting to score goals regularly and I'm happy for that, happy he has gone abroad.

"It's especially so considering he is a Londoner – in general Londoners struggle to leave London. When I heard he was coming to France, it made me think he has a refreshing mindset."

Balogun was born in America, but grew up in London after emigrating to England when he was just two-years-old. He joined Arsenal's academy at the age of 10 and represented both England and the US at age group level before ultimately deciding to play for America at senior level.

And his decision to declare for America came after he was left out of Gareth Southgate's first England squad for 2023, despite his impressive form for Reims. After the squad was announced, Balogun appeared to take aim at England as he posted on Instagram : "In life, go where you're appreciated. Be easy."

Just a few months later, it was announced that he had committed to the US and he has been ever-present for them since, although he is yet to make an appearance under Mauricio Pochettino due to his recent injury struggles.

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