France midfielder Paul Pogba has said he has been the victim of extortion attempts and threats from an organized crime gang, and that authorities in Italy and France are investigating.
Pogba, who returned to Juventus in July following leaving Manchester United, issued a statement on Sunday following his brother Matthias Pogba posted a video online.
Matthias Pogba spoke in French, Spanish, English and Italian in the video and promised to “uncover loud news” regarding his younger brother and agent, Raffaella Pimenta.
“The competent authorities in Italy and France were notified a month ago and there will be no further comments on the ongoing investigations,” Paul Pogba said in a statement signed by his lawyers, his mother, Yu Moreba, and his agent.
French prosecutors told Archyde.com that investigations were ongoing.
“We confirm that an investigation was opened on August 3, 2022, on charges of attempted extortion by an organized crime gang. A special unit has been assigned to investigate this case,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
Pogba, 29, suffered a knee injury while training with Juventus last month. The player opted not to undergo surgery and began a rehabilitation program to be fit for France’s World Cup in Qatar in November.
