Paul Pogba’s older brother Mathias Pogba has been reportedly charged and remanded in custody over an alleged extortion attempt on his younger brother Paul Pogba. Paul Pogba and Mathias Pogba have been entangled in a deep crisis and row bordering on blackmail and extortion plots, as claimed by Paul Pogba.
The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder had accused his brother of liaising with a group of gangsters to extort money from him through blackmail. Mathias Pogba, on the other hand, accused the Juventus midfielder of attempting to cast a spell on French and PSG star Kylian Mbappe.
Mathias Pogba had released a video that had gone viral threatening to disclose explosive secrets about his brother that would shock the world and trigger questions about Paul’s true personality. Pogba immediately debunked Mathias’ statement. He dismissed it as part of a long-term ploy to swindle him of €13m with some organized gang.
While Pogba had reported the matter to authorities, who commenced an investigation, Mathias returned with another video accusing his brother of trying to silence him. He dropped the bombshell of an alleged plot by his younger brother to harm Kylian Mbappe by consulting a marabout. Mathias Pogba also said that Paul Pogba had paid money to his purported blackmailers to prevent them from disclosing information about his secret dealings.
The Juventus midfielder further discredited the statement saying that he consulted a marabout but not to harm his French teammate, Kylian Mbappe. Pogba also admitted to paying money to some gangsters, but after they had threatened his life, not because of any threat to disclose any hidden information about him.
Meanwhile, French authorities confirmed that an investigation is ongoing on the brewing crisis.
Mathias Pogab has been charged and is under custody. Four other suspects have also been formally investigated for a similar extortion charge and criminal association. This was disclosed by judicial sources who spoke with news agencies Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Meanwhile, Yassine Bouzrou, who is a lawyer to Mathias Pogba has maintained that his client is innocent.
“We are going to challenge this decision,” he said while speaking with French broadcaster BFMTV.
Mathias Pogba, 32, has not denied the video he released online. He had admitted he was behind the video that promised “great revelations” about Paul Pogba.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe who has been dragged into the row by Mathias Pogba has stated that he has nothing against his fellow teammate Paul Pogba after having heard from him. French football authorities were already worried that the crisis may likely affect French World Cup chances as a rift might be created between the two French stars.
Pogba is currently nursing a knee injury he picked up during Juventus pre-season friendlies and the likelihood of making Deschamp’s 2022 World Cup squad seems a bit slim. However, there are reports that his special status in the French squad may earn him a call despite not being fully fit.
Paul Pogba won the 2018 World Cup with the French national team and will be hoping to recover soon and join the team to defend the trophy. However, his row with his older brother has been temporarily nipped in the bud as the French authorities have taken over the matter.
