- The trial of Paul Pogba’s 2022 extortion case begins Tuesday, November 26, involving six accused individuals, including his brother Mathias
- The former Manchester United man was kidnapped by childhood friends who demanded €13 million
- The ordeal also involved a €57,000 Adidas shopping spree against the footballer’s wish
The trial of ex-Manchester United star Paul Pogba’s extortion case begins today, Tuesday, November 26, at the Paris Correctional Tribunal in France.
The 2018 World Cup winner finds himself entangled in a saga of betrayal, kidnapping, and organised crime that unfolded in 2022.
Six men, including Pogba's brother Mathias, are currently on trial for charges ranging from extortion and kidnapping to criminal association, with potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
The uneventful incident began on March 19, 2022, when Pogba visited La Renardière, the neighbourhood in Roissy-en-Brie, Seine-et-Marne, where he grew up. Taking advantage of his stay in the Paris region before joining the French national team at Clairefontaine, Pogba was allegedly lured by childhood friends to an apartment in a nearby town.
Tensions quickly escalated as two masked men wielding assault rifles entered and joined their company, demanding €13 million for alleged “protection” throughout Pogba’s career.
While Mathias Pogba was reportedly absent on the night of the kidnapping, he is accused of pressuring his brother to make payments, claiming he was a mere “puppet” in the scheme. Disturbingly, Pogba had already paid €100,000 to his alleged extortionists before filing a formal complaint.
In a bizarre twist, just days after the kidnapping, Pogba accompanied five individuals to an Adidas store on the Champs-Élysées, where his VIP status allowed them to rack up a staggering €57,000 bill.
The gang, which included two of the already accused, reportedly “cleaned out” the store, forcing staff to load vans with shoes, jerseys, and tracksuits.
Mathias Pogba added to the drama by releasing cryptic and threatening videos on social media, promising explosive revelations about his brother. The videos even touched on an alleged witchcraft and fetish incident involving Kylian Mbappé, which Paul Pogba had to publicly deny.
The trial comes at a tumultuous time for the midfielder, who was suspended in September 2023 for testing positive for Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Initially handed a four-year ban, his sentence was later reduced to 18 months.
Now released by Juventus, Pogba’s future on the pitch remains uncertain, though he could return as early as spring 2024, pending the trial’s outcome.
Man United’s Erik Ten Hag avoids verbal duel with Cristiano Ronaldo amid early season pressure
Previously, TheRadar reported that Erik ten Hag had made it a habit to respond firmly when he believed criticism was unfair. Whether it's shutting down journalists during press conferences or dismissing pundit commentary from the likes of Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer as "subjective" or "stupid," Ten Hag has built a reputation for standing his ground.
But this time, facing recent comments from Cristiano Ronaldo, a world-class superstar and club legend, the Manchester United manager chose a take things a bit more cool.
