Reports claim that Juventus superstar Paul Pogba paid £85,000 (€100,000) to an alleged group of extortionists who had demanded £11 million. The incident occurred when Pogba was taken to a Paris apartment in March, where he was reportedly threatened with assault rifles in what is suspected to be a plot to blackmail him.
The 29-year-old World Cup champion stated that the men claimed the money was for ‘protection services’ dating back 13 years, including the time he spent in Manchester.
Pogba mentioned that two armed men asserted they had discreetly ‘protected him’ over more than a decade, including during his stints at Manchester United, the last of which ended earlier this year.
According to French news outlet RMC, Pogba’s attempt to placate the extortionists with around £85,000 reportedly resulted in a renewed demand for the £11 million.
These allegations emerged after Pogba’s brother, Mathias, posted a video online promising ‘great revelations’ about the footballer in four languages. This was followed by a statement signed by Pogba’s lawyers, mother, and agent, addressing the threats and extortion attempts.
Judicial sources in Paris have confirmed the initiation of an investigation for ‘attempted extortion in an organised gang’. It was revealed that Pogba’s ‘big brother and childhood friends’ are among the suspects.
However, Mathias, who denied the claims made by his brother, took to social media to express his side of the story and to make references about impending revelations concerning Kylian Mbappe.
In response, Pogba dismissed any story surrounding Mbappe, contradicting his brother’s claims.
Addressing the situation, Pogba’s lawyers and mother condemned Mathias’s statements, stating that they are part of a pattern of threats and extortion against him.
During hearings, Pogba reportedly confided in investigators about being trapped by childhood friends and two armed, hooded men who had been threatening him for months. The gang allegedly demanded €13 million, prompting acts of intimidation in Manchester and Turin.
Pogba was also taken to a flat in the Paris suburb where he grew up, and was accused of not financially supporting the group since turning professional.
Pogba also mentioned a previous incident where he had to expel one of his childhood friends from his house in Manchester after discovering that the individual had misused his credit card to steal €200,000.
The French prosecutor confirmed that an investigation into the matter is underway, with the case being handled by a unit within the judicial police specialized in investigating organized crime.