Pogba's Monaco Payday: World Cup Winner on a Relative Shoestring?

Picture this: Paul Pogba, the flamboyant Frenchman with the killer dance moves and a trophy cabinet that screams 'baller', finally back on the pitch after his doping nightmare. Last summer, he rocked up at AS Monaco, turning heads and raising eyebrows. But hold onto your pints – his wages might just surprise you.

After sitting out for 18 months, Pogba could've chased the big bucks elsewhere. Instead, he opted for the glitz of the Principality. As Luke Entwistle reports for Get French Football News, it's a smart move, but not for the reasons you'd think.

La Pioche's Humble(ish) Slice of the Pie

L'Équipe have spilled the beans on Pogba's contract. We're talking under €200,000 a month – yeah, you read that right. For a lad who's pocketed fortunes at Manchester United and Juventus, that's like swapping the private jet for economy class.

Don't get us wrong, it's still a tidy sum. Enough to fund a few Juventus-style haircuts and keep the Pogboom flowing. But Pogba knocked back juicier deals to sign with Les Monégasques. Why? Maybe the Monaco lifestyle – beaches, yachts, and no taxman knocking – outweighs the extra zeros.

His deal's packed with bonuses, mind. Performance clauses that could top it up nicely. Trouble is, since his comeback in Ligue 1, he's barely broken a sweat: just 30 minutes over three sub appearances. Those bonuses? Gathering dust like an unused sub's boots.

Not Cracking Monaco's Rich List

Here's the kicker: Pogba doesn't even sniff Monaco's top 10 earners. Top spot's shared by Eric Dier and Denis Zakaria, both on a whopping €330,000 monthly. Dier, the ex-Tottenham rock, and Zakaria, the midfield enforcer, are living large.

Even Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati sneaks into the top five at €250,000 – and that's with the Camp Nou covering half the tab. Fati's barely laced up either, but his wage still trumps Pogba's base. Ouch.

Monaco's wage bill shows their savvy. They're banking on youth and hunger, not just reputations. Pogba at 33 is the grizzled vet, but with limited minutes, he's earning his corn the hard way – proving he's still got it.

Pogba's Comeback: Glamour Over GraVY?

Rewind to March, when his ban lifted. The football world buzzed: where next for La Pioche? MLS whispers, Saudi riches, even a Juventus reunion. Nah, he picked Monaco, fresh off a strong Ligue 1 campaign.

It's paid off so far – sort of. A smattering of cameos, but coach Adi Hütter's easing him in. Fans are buzzing for more flair, those trademark flicks and long-range rockets. If he hits form, those bonuses will flow, and he'll climb that wage ladder.

Humour us here: Pogba on sub-€200k? It's like Ronaldo managing a chip shop. Still, in Monaco's world of megabucks, it's a bargain. Expect fireworks if he gets gametime – or a transfer saga if he doesn't.

Luke Entwistle's scoop from GFFN lifts the lid perfectly. Pogba's not broke, just prioritising pitch time over pay packets. In football's mad money circus, that's refreshingly grounded. Cheers to that – now pass the crisps.