Paul Pogba is strolling down the pit wall at Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore. Journalists begin to circle, and soon enough, the subject of Manchester City’s guilty verdict arises.

The Frenchman smirks, raises his hand, and responds: ‘I have nothing to say, to be honest.’

But Pogba does have something to say. Four years may have passed since the 33-year-old was last competing with the Cityzens for their biggest rivals, Manchester United, but the midfielder still has a vested interest in the outcome of their appeal against the club’s conviction on 114 Premier League charges.

‘I just hope it doesn’t affect the Premier League,’ Pogba continues. ‘Hopefully we can get two titles back.’

Pogba was once the main man at United, a key cog in two teams that went toe-to-toe with City at their very peak. But he came out on the wrong side of the fight to the juggernaut on both occasions, with the Red Devils coming second to their rivals in both the 2017-18 and 2020-21 campaigns.

Only the first of those near-misses came during the period in which City were found to have used ‘sham’ contracts and agreements to cook their books by around £900million. So whatever punishment does come City’s way, if there is one, Pogba can most likely only dream of one Premier League crown.

Paul Pogba spoke on the Man City guilty verdict while at Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday

These days the one-time World Cup winner isn’t competing for titles, though. He is a free agent, and has been since his Monaco contract was terminated in the summer, following an injury-ravaged spell in the principality.

Instead of strutting his stuff on the pitch, he now lives the glamorous life of an attendee of Formula One Grands Prix – as he was in Singapore on Sunday when asked about City – and fashion shows in the most stylish city in the world.

Pogba’s appearance in the Asian city-state was courtesy of his long-term sponsor Adidas, who he has been partnered with for over a decade, and followed on from his presence with wife Zulay at The Business of Fashion 500 Gala in Paris last week.

The former France international has long loved the world of fashion, constantly showcasing bold clothing choices away from his sporting career – some cool, and some questionable – and he even has his own apparel brand.

POGBA MDXCIII – 1593 in Roman numerals, which could refer to his birthdate of March 15, 1993 – was launched in October last year and is designed in Miami, with ‘the finest artisans and manufacturers’, and aims to ‘redefine the codes of luxury sport, blending excellence, authenticity, and emotion’.

BOF 500 was part of the famous Paris Fashion Week, the most prestigious cohort of shows in the world of fashion – part of the ‘Big Four’ alongside Milan, London and New York – and Pogba rocked up sporting a sleek tuxedo, arm in arm with Zulay. He looked a million dollars and the smile on his face suggested he felt the same way.

Pogba is living a truly lavish life of extravagance, and if he were to step away from football altogether, he wouldn’t be short of avenues to go down. That said, he has not let it be known that he has plans to hang up his boots.

The midfielder, who was once deemed one of the best in the world, was trying to revive his career when he signed for Monaco on an initial two-year deal. He broke down once the move was confirmed, with this his first step toward redemption after serving an 18-month doping ban.

Pogba (pictured scoring against Man City in 2018) was part of a Man United team who twice finished second to rivals City 

Pogba is without a club after having his Monaco contract terminated during the summer

His first game for the club came a mammoth 808 days after he last laced up his boots for his previous club, Juventus. That was due to a four-year suspension he was initially handed while at the Italian club after testing positive for the prohibited substance DHEA – a ban which sent one of football’s biggest names into the wilderness.

Pogba had admitted to Juventus that he took some nutritional supplements, supposedly supplied to him by a Miami-based doctor, but was totally unaware that they contained testosterone, which led to his ban.

In the year that followed, the former Man United and Juventus star kept a low profile. That was until October 2024, when his ban was slashed to 18 months. From the darkness, Pogba could then see the light.

The reduction meant Pogba was free to return to professional football, and he did so with Monaco. But after only featuring in six games during one season at the club, while earning £44,000 a week, his contract was cut short.

After everything he has been through, he is back to square one.

A career in Europe doesn’t seem to be on the cards for Pogba, nor does a venture to Saudi Arabia. However, the MLS appears to be the most likely destination at the time of writing. Daily Mail Sport understands Pogba was offered to clubs within the league back in August.

Interest from across the pond isn’t new; Pogba previously held talks with DC United, while David Beckham’s Inter Miami – home to Lionel Messi – have also been linked to the midfielder in the past.

There have also been rumours about a new life in the Big Apple, with Pogba linked with a move to New York City FC, where Frank Lampard went to retire following his 13-year trophy-laden stint at Chelsea. Nevertheless, Pogba has yet to have had any concrete talks with a new suitor.

The 33-year-old  was last week spotted at aParis Fashion Week event with wife Zulay 

Pogba has launched a new clothing brand last year and has long held an interest in the world of fashion

Meanwhile, as the rumour mill continues to spin, Pogba, who enjoyed two spells at United and made over 230 appearances for the club – scoring 39 times and providing 51 assists – is making sure to help those who trod the same steps he once took in Manchester.

Summer signing Carlos Baleba, who made his debut during the disappointing 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday night, recently revealed that Pogba was the first to congratulate him on his £70million switch from Brighton.

‘It was Paul Pogba,’ Baleba said when questioned on who first texted him after the move. ‘He said Manchester is a big club, a great city and he really enjoyed it here.’

If Baleba can produce similar moments of magic to what Pogba did in a Red Devils shirt, he will do more than just endear himself to the fans. The Frenchman will also want to rediscover that form when he eventually returns to the turf, to help rebuild a career that once threatened to flourish into one of the greatest we have seen but didn’t.