Paul Pogba’s spell at Monaco could be cut short after making just six appearances in an injury-plagued debut season.

Pogba joined the Ligue 1 outfit last June after his original four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months.

The 33-year-old signed a two-year deal at Monaco, but his 2025-26 campaign proved to be a nightmare as he only started one match and played a grand total of just 115 minutes across all of his outings.

The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder hoped to make France’s World Cup squad but those plans went awry due to his fitness issues and performance levels.

Pogba – who earned £290,000-per-week in his second spell at United – is reportedly earning below £44,000-per-week at Monaco, but despite the relatively low top-flight income he could be sold as the club look to lower their wage bill under the DNCG (French football’s financial watchdog) regulations.

Speaking to Get French Football News, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro said: ‘It is a complicated topic because we have a lot of respect for Paul, for the person he is. Since he arrived, he has been very positive.

‘It is also true that, last year, the project didn’t work well because when we started with him in the summer, the expectations were very different to what happened. I think that we have to be fair with him, follow his preparation every week, how he will progress physically and technically and then it will be the manager’s decision.

‘We have the summer to see what level we will see from Pogba. He could [leave at the end of the summer]. With Paul, it has always been a very open and transparent relationship.

‘If, at some point, the expectations of the player are different to the expectations of the club, we will have to speak to find a solution. The performance will give all the answers that we need. Maybe he will stay, maybe he will leave.’

Pogba was emotional when he signed for Monaco last summer, describing his comeback as a second chance after what he called ‘a time of darkness’.

The midfielder told Daily Mail Sport in 2024 that he discovered news of his reduced ban while preparing for a film premiere, adding: ‘We went through hell. A time of darkness. But this is my second chance, I have to use it.’

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of unions at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has called on the Federal Government to commercialise or privatise the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), saying the move would strengthen air navigation infrastructure, improve aviation safety and align Nigeria with global best practices.

The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the branch secretaries of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP).

The statement was signed by ATSSSAN Branch Secretary, Obasi Ugwumba; ANAP Branch Secretary, Salami J. Adeniyi; NUATE Branch Secretary, Omaga Joshua; and NAAPE Branch Secretary, Celestine N. Chukwu.

According to the unions, NAMA’s reliance on government budget allocations has slowed the deployment of critical air navigation technologies required to meet international aviation standards.

They argued that commercialisation or privatisation would enable the agency to attract private equity, access international bonds and capital markets, and secure other financing options needed to invest in next-generation air navigation systems, including satellite-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology and modern backup infrastructure.

The committee noted that dependence on annual budgetary allocations, changing political priorities and bureaucratic processes has delayed critical safety upgrades and infrastructure development.

It added that a commercially driven NAMA would become more financially sustainable by generating funds through the capital market while taking operational decisions based on safety and efficiency rather than government budget cycles.

Citing global examples, the unions pointed to Nav Canada, NATS Holdings in the United Kingdom and Airways New Zealand as successful air navigation service providers operating under user-pays models that support continuous technological advancement and financial sustainability.

The committee also outlined NAMA’s key revenue sources, including en-route charges, overflight charges, its statutory share of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC), non-navigational charges, charter flight services, air traffic services at private and state-owned airports, aeronautical telecommunications, calibration services, obstacle evaluation, aeronautical information sales and special Hajj operations.

However, the unions expressed concern over what they described as insufficient transparency regarding revenue generated from airspace violation fines and extension of service hour charges, urging the agency to improve public disclosure and financial accountability.
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The committee also criticised NAMA’s proposal before the National Assembly seeking to increase the Ticket Sales Charge by between 23 and 40 per cent, arguing that the agency should prioritise operational efficiency and better financial management instead of imposing additional charges.

While advocating reforms, the unions stressed that any commercialisation or privatisation model should preserve the NCAA’s role as an independent safety regulator responsible for oversight, audits and enforcement in accordance with the Civil Aviation Act and standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

They proposed either full privatisation or a carefully structured Public-Private Partnership (PPP) that would transform NAMA into an independent corporation with private sector participation, measurable performance targets and safeguards for national security, while maintaining effective government regulation.

The committee warned that retaining the current structure could leave Nigeria behind global aviation standards due to ageing infrastructure, inadequate funding and operational inefficiencies.

It urged the Federal Government to implement reforms that would position Nigeria’s airspace management system for greater efficiency, improved safety and long-term sustainability.

Fulham have appointed Alvaro Arbeloa as their new manager on a three-year contract.

The former Real Madrid boss, 43, succeeds Marco Silva after he agreed to join Benfica.

“It is a real honour for me to be embarking on this new stage at Fulham FC, the oldest club in London,” he said. “I feel a great sense of responsibility and I’m deeply grateful to [chairman] Mr [Shahid] Khan and [vice-chairman] Tony Khan for the trust they have placed in me with Fulham in the Premier League.”

Chairman Shahid Khan said: “Alvaro is, by his own admission, very ambitious. He has spent quality time around the best players, clubs and methods in the game, experiences which will serve him well here at Fulham.

“Alvaro also has great interest in our academy set-up and believes in giving young players a chance. I loved hearing that from Alvaro, as well as his intent on playing attacking football.”

Arbeloa’s candidacy was supported by excellent references from recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and the Spanish club’s new manager Jose Mourinho, who he played for at Santiago Bernabeu.

The former full-back left Real Madrid at the end of last season and was replaced by Mourinho, who left Benfica. Silva then opted to move to the Portuguese side as Mourinho’s replacement despite contract offers from Fulham.

In an interview last month, Fulham’s vice-chairman said Silva had previously “indicated he wanted to stay” but that “Marco changed his mind” and surprised the board by leaving Craven Cottage after five successful years.

Arbeloa was a youth coach in Madrid before taking over as interim manager following the departure of Xabi Alonso in January.

He led Real Madrid for the last 28 games of the season as they finished second in La Liga and were knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich.

Arbeloa is keen to bring players with him, including attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono, full-back Fran Garcia and forward Gonzalo Garcia.