France and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed his FIFA World Cup winner's medal was amongst the items stolen after a robbery which left him scared for his family.
The incident took place when the 29-year-old was playing for his club against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, and the former Juventus man said "our family's worst nightmare was realized". Pogba's two children and their nanny were inside the player's home when it was robbed, and he has now shared further details of how it has affected him.
Man Utd are helping their players bolster security around their home s, with this not the first such incident. Defender Victor Lindelof was the subject of a burglary back in January, and police haven't ruled out the possibility that the same criminals could have been involved in both incidents.
“I am ok, my family too," Pogba told Le Figaro (via Get French Football News ), "I had quite a surprising week, with the Champions’ League match where I learned that I am not going to play and, when I went home, I discovered that my home was robbed following the entry of three people who stole my safe.
"There was my mother’s jewellery in there, my World Cup medal… What scared me the most, is that my two children were at home with the nanny during the incident. She heard everything, called my wife and security, then locked herself with the boys (aged 1 and 2) in a room.
"For several days after, she was in shock. The most important thing is that my children are doing fine.”
Pogba was one of the stars of Didier Deschamps' team as they won the World Cup in Russia in 2018. The United midfielder started in six of Les Bleus' seven games, scoring in the final as they beat Croatia 4-2 to lift the trophy.
After the defeat to Atletico Madrid, which saw United eliminated from the Champions League, the Premier League side embarked on an extended break without a fixture. Their next game is against Leicester City on April 2, but Pogba is one of a number of squad members away on international duty in the meantime.
France have already qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, where they will aim to defend their title, after finishing top of their group without losing a single game. However, Pogba is one of six Premier League players called up to Deschamps' squad for their upcoming friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa.
Tottenham's Hugo Lloris and West Ham United's Alphonse Areola are among the goalkeepers selected by Deschamps. The defenders include Aston Villa's Lucas Digne and Pogba's Man Utd teammate Raphael Varane, and N'Golo Kante of Chelsea is among the midfield contingent.
