Paul Pogba ‘target of £11m plot by gun-wielding childhood friends’ as brother threatens to reveal ‘explosive’ secrets

PAUL POGBA has claimed he was the target of an £11million blackmail plot by his childhood friends.

It comes after his older brother Mathias Pogba, 32, bizarrely threatened to reveal “explosive information” that could “affect his sibling’s popularity around the world”.

Paul, 29, told authorities the group requested the money for “protection services” stretching back 13 years, it is understood.

Judicial sources in Paris confirmed on Sunday that an investigation for “attempted extortion in an organised gang” has been opened.

A source told French news outlet France Info, that the footballer’s “childhood friends” were named as suspects.

The ex-Man United star claimed he was dragged to an apartment in the Paris suburb of Lagny-sur-Marne.

The source said: “During various hearings, Paul Pogba was able to confide in investigators from the Central Office of Judicial Police Combating Organised Crime that he was trapped by childhood friends, and two hooded men armed with assault rifles.”

The footballer is said to have told investigators that the group accused him of not helping them financially since becoming a professional football player and demanded £11million (€13million).

The two armed men told Paul that they “protected him discreetly” since he was 13 including during two spells at Manchester United, the last of which ended earlier this year.

He said he saw his alleged blackmailers a number of times in April in Manchester and then in July at the Juventus training centre in Turin.

The Juve player is said to have told investigators he was always keen to provide his help to his childhood friends.

He claimed the only time that didn’t happen was in January when he fell out with one of them.

The footie star kicked his pal out of his house in Manchester after realising he had used his credit card to steal £170,000 (€200,000).

Paul Pogba was born and raised in Lagny-sur-Marne along with two brothers – Mathias and Florentin, both of whom also play football professionally.

Earlier today, Mathias targeted his brother – as well as agent Rafaela Pimenta and fellow footballer Kylian Mbappe – in a video posted to social media.

In a rant uploaded online and cited by the , the former Wrexham, Crewe, and Partick Thistle footballer said: “The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, in other words, the whole world, as well as my brother’s fans, and even more so the French team and Juventus, my brother’s team-mates and his sponsors deserve to know certain things.

“If he deserves his place in the French team and the honour of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.

“If he is a trustworthy person, that any player deserves to have at his side.”

Mathias then ranted about Pimenta – who has taken over as Pogba’s agent since the death of Mino Raiola earlier this year.

In doing so, he questioned “her integrity, her professionalism… her loyalty”.

He then claimed to have “explosive” information about Paris Saint-Germain and France superstar Mbappe.

Mathias Pogba went on: “I will tell you very important things about him and there will be elements and many testimonies to confirm my words.

“Everything could be explosive and make a lot of noise.”

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Paul Pogba’s mother and lawyer Yeo Moriba teamed up with Pimenta to launch a response to Mathias’ claims.

They said: “Mathias Pogba’s recent statements on social networks are unfortunately not a surprise.

“They are in addition to threats and organised extortion attempts by an organised gang against Paul Pogba.

“The competent bodies in Italy and France were informed a month ago and there will be no further comments in relation to the ongoing investigation.”

Mathias is without a club after leaving fourth-tier French side Belfort earlier this year.

Following his departure after just eight months, Belfort president Jean-Paul Simon said: “We made a bad choice in signing Mathias Pogba. 

“You could say he was the wrong man for the job.”

Mathias was in Russia cheering on his younger brother at the 2018 World Cup four years ago.