Paul Pogba has claimed that his brother Mathias is part of a “group-organised extortion attempt” against him.
The Juventus midfielder released a statement via his lawyer on Sunday after Mathias used his social media platform to threaten the publication of "great revelations" about his younger brother. According to news agency AFP, French police have opened an investigation into the allegations, which France TV claim involve an alleged €13million (£11m) blackmail attempt.
In response to Mathias’ video, a statement has been issued on behalf of Paul Pogba, his mother Yeo Moriba and his lawyer Rafaela Pimenta. “Mathias Pogba’s recent statements on social media are unfortunately no surprise,” the statement read. “They are in addition to threats and group-organised extortion attempts against Paul Pogba. The relevant authorities in Italy and France were contacted a month ago and there will be no further comments in relation to the ongoing investigation.”
In a video posted on social media on Saturday, Mathias Pogba, who has played professional football at various levels right across Europe, promised unspecified “explosive revelations” about his brother and Pimenta.
"If I make this video, I believe that the French, Italian, English, Spanish supporters, which means the whole world, as well as my brother's fans, and even more, the French team and Juventus, my brother's teammates and his sponsors deserve to know certain things, in order to decide, in full knowledge of the facts, if he really deserves the admiration, respect and love of the public,” he said, in words translated from French.
“There will be many elements and testimonies to confirm my words. All of this is likely to be explosive and make a lot of noise."
France TV reports that Pogba has spoken to France’s Central Office for the Fight against Organised Crime about the alleged extortion attempts. Pogba reportedly told the police that his childhood friends and his brother Mathias were behind the threats.
The report is said to state that hooded men with assault rifles have allegedly threatened him, following him to Manchester, Turin and Paris to harass him.
After allegedly dragging Pogba into a flat in Paris in March, the group demanded €13m for protecting him over the past 13 years. After allegedly being accosted at Juventus’ training ground in Turin in July, Pogba is believed to have decided to tell his club, who he joined on a free transfer from Manchester United this summer. They then contacted the police.
Pogba reportedly believes that the group will try to broadcast messages he sent about Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe, in order to try and damage his reputation and standing in the France national team.
