Paul Pogba in Montreal?
A proposal that might seem ambitious, but which, in the current context, makes a lot of sense.
With his suspension for doping reduced from four years to 18 months, the former Juventus midfielder could return to the field as early as March 2025.
However, his future in Italy is now compromised. Juventus, in a rejuvenation project (in Montreal, we would say “reconstruction”) would no longer count on Pogba.
The 31-year-old Frenchman, away from the field for more than a year, remains an international class name in the world of soccer.
According to several sources, including La Gazzetta dello Sport, Major League Soccer (MLS) would be a destination seriously considered for the man nicknamed “The Pickaxe”.
Could Joey Saputo, owner of CF Montreal, seize this golden opportunity to attract a superstar to Montreal and boost the popularity of his team?
This scenario is complex. Some will say that we are dreaming in colors, but if Saputo is ready to extend the necessary money, anything is possible.
Pogba’s arrival in Montreal would be a real bolt from the blue for Quebec soccer, CF Montreal and MLS in general.
In terms of salary, Montreal should offer a competitive offer, around $8 million per year, over a period of two or three years, to convince Pogba to join Quebec.
The problem. CF Montreal’s total budget is less than $10 million. Will Saputo be able to see where Pogba Bridge could be a good marketing investment?
If Paul Pogba joins MLS, he would certainly be expected to be among the highest-paid players in the league, and his salary should propel him straight into the top 5.
Currently, the top 10 salaries in MLS are dominated by international stars, several of whom have made the jump from the big European leagues. Here is an overview of the top 10 salaries for 2024:
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) – $20.4 million
Lorenzo Insigne (Toronto FC) – $15.4 million
Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami) – 8.8 million dollars
Xherdan Shaqiri (Chicago Fire) – 8,2 millions de dollars
Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC) – $6.7 million
Federico Bernardeschi (Toronto FC) – 6.3 million dollars
Emil Forsberg (New York Red Bulls)
Héctor Herrera (Houston Dynamo) – 5.2 million dollars
Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC) – 5,2 millions de dollars
Carlos Vela (LAFC) – 4.7 million dollars
Where would Pogba be?
Taking current salaries into account, Paul Pogba should find himself between the top 5 and top 10 of the highest paid players in MLS.
This is why an annual salary of $8 million would be reasonable for a player of his stature.
This would position him just behind Busquets and Shaqiri, or even above them, depending on the negotiations and ambitions of CF Montreal or other interested franchises.
If franchises like those of Los Angeles or Miami have already shown their interest in attracting big European stars, Saputo could however stand out by banking on a French-speaking project around Pogba, offering the player the opportunity to be the face of soccer Montrealer, while guaranteeing it a central place in a recovery project and discovering a culture that is closer to Europe.
Imagine how Pogba would be a lever to attract new fans and increase the club’s notoriety. As Pogba’s career nears its end, a challenge in MLS, in a French-speaking and multicultural city like Montreal, could allow him to relaunch in a less demanding environment than that of the major European clubs.
And he would be quite the star here. He should talk to Didier Drogba to be convinced.
March 2025 will mark a decisive turning point for Pogba’s career. Montreal must position itself as a serious option, but Joey Saputo must have the courage to invest the necessary resources to make this dream a reality.
Paul Pogba, featured at Stade Saputo…the dream…
