The trial of the friends who extorted Paul Pogba and involving his brother begins in Paris

The six accused must appear in court until December 3 in the so-called “Pogba case”, which also includes the kidnapping of the then Manchester United and later Juventus Turin player. The defendants face between five and 10 years in prison.

The case had broken out at the end of August 2022, when his brother Mathias had spread a video on social networks, promising r“explosive” revelations about Paulwithout giving more details. This multimedia element was followed by another in which Mathias accused his little brother of having cast a spell on Kylian Mbappé, his teammate, through a “marabout”, a type of witch.

The player’s lawyers and his agent Rafaela Pimenta then indicated that these statements by Mathias added up to “threats and extortion attempts by an organized gang.” On the other hand, Paul Pogba had reported pressure from his brother and friends to give them money.

The nature of the case has caused a stir in France due to Mathias Pogba’s involvement in the case. Statements such as “I almost died because of you” to his own brother caused a stir on social media.

In Spain, Mathias has played for lower division soccer teams such as Lorca FC or Rancing de Murcia. In addition, he has been seen walking around on television in programs such as ‘El Chiringuito de Jugones’, presented by Josep Pedrerol.

In September 2022, Mathias Pogba was remanded in custody on charges of extortion.

Money separated Pogba from his friends and his brother Mathias

The French footballer, who had just signed with Juventus, had reported the events in Italy in July 2022, before being interrogated in France. Paul Pogba has assured investigators that “some childhood friends set him up” in the early hours of March 20, 2022, when he was playing for Manchester United.

These relatives supposedly kidnapped him and held him to gun point thanks to two hooded men armed with assault rifles, demanding payment for the “services provided.” Likewise, they had reproached them not having helped them financially since he had become a professional player. Pogba claims that he had paid 100,000 euros of the 13 million claimed.

The footballer also had to pay a bill of 57,227 euros, which they spent at the Adidas store on the popular Champs-Elysées Avenue in Paris.

Contacted by AFP, the 2018 world champion’s lawyer, Pierre-Jean Douvier, declined to comment before the start of the trial. The close ones They deny the accusations: “It was a friendly relationship, and, in addition to that, Paul Pogba perhaps gave them benefits,” according to Karim Morand-Lahouazi, defender of one of the five friends.

They all claim that they had also been victims of violence and pressure from the hooded men, who were never identified. “My client ended up on the ground, with his hands on his head and a gun pointed at him,” adds Morand-Lahouazi. During the trial that opens this Tuesday, the five will have to respond to accusations of extortion, kidnapping and association of criminals in France.

Paul Pogba’s brother is also implicated in extortion

The sixth accused, Mathias Pogba, absent that night, is suspected of “putting pressure on his brother Paul and his family to ensure payment of the sum of 13 million euros”, for which he must answer for the charges. charges of attempted extortion and attempted kidnapping.

Before the investigating judge, Paul Pogba explained that the money had estranged both brothers, setting up a economic dependence from Mathias towards him: “I wanted to resume a brotherly relationship and not a financial relationship,” declared the French player. On the other hand, Mathias has expressed his desire for a new «union» with his brother who can «consolidate again».

Paul Pogba is currently without a team, after being suspended for doping in August 2023 in a match against Udinese of the Italian Serie A. His last team, Juventus Turin, had reached an agreement to terminate his contract in November 2025. The player who won the 2018 World Cup in Russia will return to the playing fields in 2025 after having his sanction reduced. .