MATHIAS POGBA is far more famous for being Paul’s older brother than for his own footballing career.
But his relationship with the former Manchester United star has seemingly hit the rocks with the blackmail plot.
The now-Juventus man claimed over the weekend he was the target of an £11million blackmail plot organised by his brother and childhood friends.
He told police he was held hostage by two hooded gunmen as part of the extortion with the gang apparently wanting money for “protection services” dating back 13 years.
Pogba – who is said to have paid the alleged blackmailers £85,000 – also said the gangsters threaten to expose the midfielder for apparently asking a witch doctor to cast a spell on French team-mate Kylian Mbappe.
Mathias responded with a lengthy social media post, writing: “My little brother is finally starting to show his true face.
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“Paul, you really wanted to shut me up completely, to lie and send me to prison, I suspected it.
“I’ll tell you again: brother, manipulating people is not good! It’s not about money: you implicated me in spite of myself, I almost died because of you, you left me in a hole and you want to play the innocent one.
“When everything is said, people will see that there is no bigger coward, bigger traitor and bigger hypocrite than you on this earth.”
Mathias, 32, has previously been close with his younger and more successful brother Paul.
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The pair were regularly snapped together, socialising and celebrating Paul’s victories, including after the 2018 World Cup final.
Mathias was also in the Stade de France supporting his sibling when the Paris terror attacks took place in November 2015.
Speaking earlier that year, he said: “I’m protective of Paul, yes.
“I don’t see him as ‘Paul Pogba’ like everyone else. For me, he’s mon petit frère [my little brother].
“I’m fiercely proud of him, but I think we’re all proud of what we’ve achieved in the game.”
Unlike the ex-United man who is married to Zulay and has two young sons, Mathias is understood to be single and without children.
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However, just like his younger brother and his twin Florentin currently playing in India, Mathias is also a professional footballer – and loves a statement hairstyle.
The striker, born in Guinea before moving to Paris as a child, has endured a journeyman career around Europe – playing in seven countries including England, Wales and Scotland.
The five-cap Guinea international came through the Celta Vigo academy before stepping into senior football with one injury-hit season at Quimper in 2009-10.
During that solo campaign, he lived with future Premier League winner and PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez.
From there he had two seasons at Wrexham but fell out with two managers – firstly for an “off-field issue” and then was branded “disrespectful” by another for forcing through an exit in 2012.
Pogba went to Crewe, living in Manchester with brother Pogba who he described as a “good flat-mate”, but then had another controversial exit.
He returned to British shores to join Crawley in 2015 with a short-term spell before heading north of the border with Partick Thistle.
Mathias, who is now without a club after being given the boot by fourth-tier French outfit Belfort, opened up on the difficulty at leaving home aged 16 to join the Celta Vigo academy alongside Florentin as well as enjoying himself in England.
He told the Guardian: “Mentally it was very, very hard: life abroad, leaving friends and family, not speaking the language.
“We were so young. On my own, I don’t think I could have done that. It was hard enough with two.
“I discovered ‘my football’ in England. My style of play.
“I can’t say it’s my home, because I feel as if I’ve lived everywhere, but it’s where I am best suited.
“Aggression, strong in the air, physical duels with opponents… that’s a typical English style, I guess. I get more from my natural game here in England.”
Away from football, Mathias enjoys skiing and hit the slopes on holiday with Florentin earlier this year.
And he also co-founded the Golden Score organisation.
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Golden Score’s aim is to link top athletes with schools and companies to get them retrained and prepared for new work when their sporting careers end.
Aurelien Tchouameni, Moussa Dembele and Samuel Umtiti are among the long list of athletes to support the venture.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
