An armed extortion gang, a witch doctor, and a scandal that has sent familiar whispers across France.
French prosecutors have confirmed that they are investigating claims by World Cup-winning footballer Paul Pogba that he has been targeted by organised gangs for millions of euros.
The affair — seemingly stemming from a family dispute — has generated a great deal of online conversation.
It became public on August 27 when Mathias Pogba — Paul’s older brother — shared a video on TikTok.
In a recorded statement in four different languages, Mathias threatened to share “explosive” revelations about his brother and Paul’s new agent Rafaela Pimenta.
“[The public] deserves to know certain things in order to make an informed decision as to whether he [Paul Pogba] really deserves admiration, respect, a place in the French national team, and whether he is a person worthy of trust,” Mathias said.
The “revelations” include the bizarre claim that Paul Pogba allegedly hired a “marabout”, or an African witch doctor, to supposedly cast a spell on his teammate and French football star, Kylian Mbappe.
In a subsequent Twitter thread, Mathias Pogba repeated his unsubstantiated claims, stating that “everything is true and proven, the marabout is known.”
French law does not recognise any offence of hiring a witch doctor. Paul Pogba has denied the allegations.
The Dispute
Paul Pogba returned this summer to Juventus after six seasons at Manchester United and has enjoyed a glittering career of several major trophies. Brazilian lawyer Rafaela Pimenta became Pogba’s agent after the death of Mino Raiola.
By contrast, Mathias Pogba — three years older than Paul — has spent most of his football career with lower-tier teams in Europe. Florentin — Mathias’ twin — is also a professional footballer and both have regularly been seen at French international games to watch their younger brother in action.
Paul is also one of the main donors to 48 H POUR, a charity established by Mathias to help provide drinking water and education for children in Guinea, where he and Florentin were born.
It is unclear why the relationship between the brothers now seems to have deteriorated, with Paul’s mother Yeo Moriba supporting her youngest son’s denial.
“My little brother who is finally starting to show his true colours,” Mathias Pogba wrote on Twitter. “It’s not about the money.”
“You got me involved against my will, I almost died because of you, you left me in the hole and you want to play innocent, when all is said and done people will see that there is no one more cowardly, more treacherous and more hypocritical than you on this earth.”
He posted another obscure and cryptic video with a voice-over containing violent language and a moody soundtrack four days later.
Pogba’s Response
After the initial video was shared online, the 29-year-old World Cup winner issued a statement, signed by his lawyers, his mother and Pimenta. It stated that his older brother’s discrediting statements were “unfortunately not a surprise”.
“They come in addition to threats and extortion attempts by organised gangs against Paul Pogba. The relevant authorities in Italy and France have been notified a month ago and there will be no further comment in relation to the ongoing investigation.”
Paul Pogba claims that an organised gang, involving close friends and his brother Mathias, has been demanding €13 million from him.
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