Mathias Pogba Joins French Club Tours After a Year on the Sidelines

Guinean international Mathias Pogba has joined French third-tier outfit Tours after spending more than a year without a club.

The elder brother to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba was forced to spend over a year on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the 2016/17 season while at Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam.

He struggled to get back in shape and was last month rejected by German third division minnows Uerdingen after their coach Stefan Kraemer revealed he was ‘too heavy’ to be a nine.

He has however earned another professional contract with Tours and he’s delighted their management had faith in him.

“I chose Tours, because in the different interviews I had with all the interested clubs, only the leaders of Tours understood me and convinced me to join their project.” He told their website.

“Since January, after my injury, I have worked hard to return to the best of my form, and it paid off because the doctors are very confident.”

“The rehabilitation was very difficult but I never gave up on returning to the next level.” He added.

“My main goal in joining Tours is to get back on the pitch, to have fun but also to help Tours and my teammates to reach league 2.”

Pogba started his career at Spanish club Celta Vigo and went on to play for Partick Thistle, Wrexham, Crewe and Crawley in the Scottish Premiership, Crawley Town in League One and Pescara in Serie B.

He also made his international debut for Guinea in a friendly against Senegal in Paris and has since won four more caps.

He will wear the number 26 shirt while at Tours and will hope to help them return to Serie B where they failed to avoid the drop last season.