Pogba’s brother arrested for kidnapping plot as post-Man Utd nightmare continues

Paul Pogba’s brother Mathias has been arrested for his part in a kidnapping plot in which the Juventus midfielder was the intended victim.

On Wednesday, Mathias Pogba and four others were taken into custody in connection with the Pogba case, which first became public knowledge in late August when the former Wrexham, Crewe and Partick Thistle footballer took to social media to promise “explosive” revelations about his younger brother and PSG striker Kylian Mbappe.

It was ultimately claimed that Paul Pogba was involved in witchcraft with “the will to do harm” to his France international colleague. The midfielder rejected these accusations.

The former Manchester United man, meanwhile, released a statement indicating that his brother, in conjunction with a criminal gang, had sought to extort €13 million from him. He had approached the police about the situation as early as 3 August, when a police investigation was opened. A judicial investigation began on 2 September for extorsion with a weapon, kidnapping or kidnapping in an organised gang, and participation with a criminal association.

Mathias Pogba has denied the charges in a statement made to RMC Sport via his lawyer.

“He firmly denies any participation in the acts of kidnapping and extortion with a weapon, to which his brother Paul Pogba might have been a victim,” it is stated.

“Mathias Pogba, who wants more than anything to appease the situation with his brother, will now reserve his words for the investigating judges in the case if necessary.”

Pogba faces World Cup woe

For Paul Pogba, meanwhile, this is an unwanted distraction as he faces a race against time to recover from injury to play for France at the World Cup in Qatar, which starts in little over two months.

He returned to Juventus from Manchester United this summer but has suffered a nightmare start in Turin, which a knee problem requiring surgery.

It is now touch and go as to whether Pogba is ready for the World Cup, although reports in France have suggested that Didier Deschamps may take him whether he is fit or not due to the enlarged squad sizes and the fact that he has such a profound impact in the dressing room.