As one of the summer transfers, Paul Pogba's move to Monaco not only became a major media event but also a strategic step for the club. This was reported by Euro-football.ru.
They are relying on strengthening the midfield with experience, physical capabilities, and a renowned name. At the same time, the question arises about Alexander Golovin's position in the team.
Last season was one of the most contrasting periods in his career. Pogba is widely recognized as a player, but it is essential to understand his situation in context. In August 2023, he failed a doping test and received a four-year ban in February 2024, which was later reduced to 18 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
He was able to return to the field in March 2025 and signed a contract with Monaco until 2027. Today, Pogba is not a star but a person starting everything over again. From this perspective, he may resemble Golovin: one is trying to regain his form, while the other is trying to restore his status.
Now the French player has a new beginning. He will not be playing for Juventus or the French national team but for Monaco.
This is both an opportunity for Pogba and a call to share responsibility in the midfield. It is difficult to predict how the new season will unfold. He may show that he has been waiting to step onto the field and regain his strength for a long time.
Or he may struggle to find the previous speed and rhythm in his game. Perhaps he is no longer the Pogba who used to deliver precise long passes.
But he may not be someone ready to fade quietly from the scene either. In Monaco, he will not automatically be granted status; he will have to fight for it. No one steps onto the field just for their name.
This is actually a good situation for Pogba, as he has the chance to remain a genuine, non-decorative former star in the team. He is returning not with triumph but with a mission.
Depending on how he fulfills this mission, it will determine whether his historical place is preserved or relegated to the archives. For Golovin, the last season was more about recovery. His position in the team seems stable, but it is not guaranteed at all.
He has a contract until 2029, is respected in the club, and recognized by the fans. However, stability in the football world is rarely guaranteed, especially if you have missed many games and the team around you is changing. Now Pogba has appeared in the team.
He is not a young player or an unknown name but a world champion, even though he has gone through a difficult period. This is not just about strengthening but also about entering the sphere of influence.
Monaco is adding two players with similar profiles, likely to perform closely related tasks. This situation forces the club to think about what they intend: rotation, tactical harmony, or internal competition to invigorate the midfield? In any case, Golovin will have to respond to this situation.
He will not simply sit back and watch; he needs to step onto the field, play confidently and strongly, and convince the coach and teammates that his role is central. If Golovin and Pogba start playing together, Monaco's coaches will face a unique yet interesting task: how to harmonize two players who move differently with the ball on the field. If Golovin provides finesse, spatial awareness, and ensures the game flows without disruption, Pogba will perform more powerful, quick, and often decisive tasks in a single touch.
Pogba sets the rhythm, while Golovin feels it. Their game can be harmonized. This requires respect for roles, clear distribution of zones, and freedom.
It is not about trying to be similar but about turning differences into style. If this is achieved, Monaco will have a strong duo capable of controlling the central midfield and changing the style of play. Will Alexander Golovin maintain an important role in Monaco even after Pogba's arrival?
The answer to this question will only be determined by their form on the field and the quality of their play.
