Serie A

PAUL POGBA’S brother has been taken into police custody in connection with the blackmail plot against the Juventus star, according to reports. The former Manchester United midfielder claimed in August he was the victim of an £11million plot by childhood friends and his own sibling.
Mathias Pogba, right, has reportedly been taken into custody by French police over the blackmail plot of brother PaulCredit: Getty
Paul, 29, told authorities the group requested the money for “protection services” stretching back 13 years, it is understood.
A judicial investigation was opened on September 2 to look into the allegations of extortion with a weapon, kidnapping or kidnapping in an organised gang and participation in a criminal association.
And now Le Monde report Mathias Pogba, 32, decided to turn himself in to the authorities investigating the case.
Then the journeyman footballer, who lived with Riyad Mahrez before playing for Wrexham, is then said to have been placed in custody.
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It is alleged three other suspects have also been taken into custody yesterday and today.
Neither Paul nor Mathias’ lawyers have responded to contact from Le Monde.
The World Cup winner made the shocking revelations relating to a trip back to his home suburb of Lagny-sur-Marne near Disneyland Paris in March.
He says he was held at gunpoint by an extortion gang — and one of the plotters was brother Mathias.
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Pogba told police he was confronted by the group that included friends from his childhood and teenage years as well as two masked men armed with assault rifles.
The midfielder — married to Bolivian model Maria Zulay Salaues — then claimed he was forced to accompany them to a flat in nearby Roissy-en-Brie, where they demanded more than £11m for “protecting him”.
With the gang demanding £2.6m immediately, Paul tried to withdraw the money but his bank declined to authorise such a large amount.
Radio station France Info reported that the blackmailers had to settle for £85,000 in cash instead.
When the gang continued to try to extort money, Paul filed a criminal complaint through his lawyers.
He told cops that when the gang tailed him to Manchester and Turin, where Juventus play, his brother Mathias was present among the alleged conspirators.
Then the older brother, who is twins with Florentin, accused his famous sibling of paying for a witch doctor to curse talismanic French team-mate Kylian Mbappe
Paul has denied the claims and was publicly supported by Mbappe but Mathias — who played for a string of British clubs — labelled the Juve ace “a so-called Muslim deep in witchcraft”.
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On the pitch, Pogba is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery.
However, reports suggest he could still be included in the French World Cup squad even if he has only just returned to fitness because of his “special status” in Didier Deschamps’ team. More

ZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC has claimed he has no plans to retire yet as he revealed what it will take for him to hang up his boots.The 40-year-old is currently out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and underwent surgery back in May.
AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic isn’t retiring just yetCredit: AP
The AC Milan striker is thought to not be ready to take to the pitch again until the new year.
But this has not impacted the longevity of Ibrahimovic’s career as he dismissed retirement talk.
He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I am arrogant, zero fear. I’m well, I’m working every day to come back.
“You will surely see it. When I come back, I will be heard, you can count on it. I will do it with violence.
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“Patience is needed, that’s the key now.
“I’m not going to retire, I’m coming back and I won’t give up.”
When asked what could lead to his retirement from football he gave a typical Ibrahimovic like response.
He said: “If I see a player stronger than me, I’ll stop. But I haven’t seen him yet.”
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The veteran played a key role in the Rosseneri’s Serie A title victory last season scoring eight goals.
And the Swedish international stressed that he believes the team has got even better since last time out.
He said: “We’re even stronger than last year as a squad. Overall, we’re a better team, the market in the summer after winning the Scudetto strengthened us and now we have more alternatives on the bench. 
“If I didn’t like things, I wouldn’t be here.”
Ibrahimovic singled out the signing of talented young midfielder Charles de Ketelaere as one of the reasons they are better this season.
The ex-Manchester United man stated: “De Ketelaere is a top player, I’ll say that. You just have to give him some time to grow.” More

FORMER Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri left fans in hysterics after being caught giving someone the middle finger. The Lazio manager was spotted live on TV aiming the gesture at a member of the Hellas Verona bench.
Maurizio Sarri was not happy with something said by a Verona coach
Maurizio Sarri was caught giving multiple gestures on the touchlineCredit: Getty

The Rome-based side had just scored via Ciro Immobile when Sarri took offence to something said by a member of the Verona backroom team.
Reports in Italy suggested Sarri was arguing with their coach Alessandro Mazzola.
Sarri, 63, has since cleared up the incident saying in a post-match press conference: “I had the feeling he had told me ‘Sit down,’
“After that, we cleared up and we laughed about it.”
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Lazio went on to win the game 2-0 when Luis Alberto added a second goal late on.
Fans reacted online, with one saying “Uncle Sarri” alongside laughing emojis.
Another reacted: “My GOAT always.”
A Chelsea fan responded: “The Don is back, sack [Graham] Potter asap.”
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The victory means the Biancocelesti maintain their good start to the season and sit 6th in Serie A after six games.
This is not the first time Sarri has gone viral on social media for flipping the bird.
While in charge of Napoli he was pictured giving Juventus fans the middle finger when arriving at the stadium on the team coach.
Sarri is an experienced manager having also taken charge of the likes of Juventus.
But he never played professional football and began his career as a part-time centre-back and coach while working as a banker.
In 2019 he won the Europa League with Chelsea before eventually being sacked and replaced by Frank Lampard. More

SAMPDORIA’S manager admitted he deserved his red card against AC Milan and revealed details of his X-rated blast at the referee. Marco Giampaolo let rip at the official as his side lost 2-1 at home to the Rossoneri.
Marco Giampaolo was sent off towards the end of Sampdoria’s defeat to AC MilanCredit: Getty
The Sampdoria boss was furious at a number of decisions – but confessed he overstepped the line when talking to the ref.
And it resulted in Michael Fabbri sending him off in injury time.
Giampaolo said: “The red card for me was fair.
“I told the ref he is an a***hole.”
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Junior Messias put the Serie A champions ahead after just six minutes but they were reduced to ten men just after half-time when Rafael Leao was sent off.
The Portuguese star, a transfer target for Chelsea, was handed a second yellow for an attempted dangerous overhead kick.
Filip Duricic equalised for the hosts on 57 minutes with a neat header but ten minutes later Olivier Giroud hit the winner from the penalty spot after a controversial VAR handball call.
Giampaolo’s fury spilled over late on as he was punished for dissent – but did not back down when speaking to Sky Sport Italia.
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The 55-year-old, who had a brief stint in charge of Milan in 2019, added: “After Leao’s red card, which was sacrosanct, the referee then started officiating purely in one direction, almost as if he was trying to make amends for something.
“Every decision went against us. Plus you shouldn’t officiate with arrogance, you need to handle the pressure. It’s an important result for both clubs, not just Milan.
“It is right that I was sent off, because I called him an a***hole, but this is not how you deal with cards, you need to be more reasonable. Otherwise you lose control of the game.
“I am never controversial with referees, I have great respect for them, but this was a referee who was not in control of the match.
“It’s entirely possible Milan would’ve won anyway, don’t get me wrong, but I did not like his attitude.” More

NAPOLI director Cristiano Giuntoli has claimed Keylor Navas is on wages of £13million at PSG. The Costa Rican keeper has lost his place as No1 in the French capital to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Keylor Navas saw a move to Napoli collapseCredit: Getty
As a result, Napoli were among the clubs in talks to sign Navas.
But club chief Giuntoli revealed talks broke down due to the stopper’s financial demands.
He said: “Keylor Navas deal collapsed because there was no agreement between PSG and player’s camp on the salary: he’s on €15m gross wages per season.
“We will not try again for Navas in January – it’s over.”
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Donnarumma, 23, joined PSG from AC Milan in 2021 but competed with Navas, 35, for the No1 spot.
The Italian made 24 appearances while his counterpart played 26 times.
Although under new manager Christophe Galtier, Donnarumma has been selected as his first-choice keeper, starting all eight games.
Navas pushed more a move away from the Ligue 1 champions but after failing to secure a switch, he is braced to fight for his spot again.
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Galtier said: “This does not change my hierarchy decision, with Gianluigi as number one and Keylor as number two.
“Now that the summer market is over, I do not forbid myself to have a reflection, to know if Keylor, like every number two, must play sometimes,” to be ready “in case of suspension, injury.
“I knew that in Saint-Étienne, where there was an injury to number one and number two had not participated in many games.
“It is a reflection, but the hierarchy is established, and it stays that way.” More