Former Chelsea star says Paul Pogba 'belongs' in Premier League to prepare for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :May 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM

Modified at :May 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM

(Courtesy : Getty Images)

The French midfielder is currently a free agent.

Paul Pogba, the former midfielder for Manchester United, has been asked to return to the Premier League in order to get ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Paul Pogba served an 18-month doping ban and hasn’t participated in competitive football since September 2023. But now that the suspension is ended, the Frenchman is eager to return to the football field. After amicably ending his Juventus agreement last year, the footballer is now a free agent.

Paul Pogba has been connected to teams in the Saudi Pro League and Ligue 1. Former Chelsea player Florent Malouda has urged his countryman to return to the Premier League amid rumours about his future. He thinks England is the perfect environment for Pogba to recapture his best form and possibly rejoin the France team in time for the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to Racing Tipster, Malouda said: “I think he is a great player. He belongs to the Premier League. It’s a pity that it didn’t work as it should have done at Manchester United. Everything was there for him to succeed. Right now, he needs to make the right choice to prepare for the next World Cup.”

“He needs to build back his confidence, to be patient and at the same time be really focused and prove to himself first that he wants to play at the high level, and the Premier League is the best stage for that. I’m surprised that clubs didn’t approach him as soon as possible and give him a chance to get his fitness up to speed, and get him really ready to get back to compete.”

The upcoming summer window will be interesting to see. Paul Pogba could end up with a new team to ply his trade with. He too will be hoping to make the French team squad ahead of next year’s World Cup.

According to the 32-year-old midfielder, he is willing to wait however long it takes to find the ideal next challenge, even if it takes two years.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.