French footballer Paul Pogba recently revealed that he had contemplated retiring from the sport following alleged extortion and threats from an organized gang, which included his brother Mathias.
The Juventus midfielder, who is 30 years old, filed a complaint with Turin prosecutors in July 2022, claiming that he was the target of a €13 million (£11.1 million) blackmail plot.
Mathias Pogba, who is 33 years old and also a professional footballer, was detained in September 2022 in connection with the allegations but was later released in December pending judicial review.
He has denied all the accusations against him.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Paul Pogba spoke about the emotional impact that the incident had on him, saying that he had often felt isolated and alone.
He revealed that there were times when he had seriously considered giving up football altogether.
“When there is money involved, you have to be careful,” he said.
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“Money changes people. It can break up families. It can create wars. Sometimes, I was just by myself, thinking, ‘I don’t want to have money anymore. I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money.’ Sometimes it’s tough. This life, you have to go through it. It will only make me stronger.”
French prosecutors opened a judicial investigation into the matter in September 2022, two months after Pogba filed the initial complaint.
The investigation is expected to examine allegations of “blackmail by an armed gang, kidnapping, and membership of a criminal conspiracy.”
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Mathias Pogba’s lawyer Yassine Bouzrou has maintained that his client is innocent.
Paul Pogba, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, has enjoyed a successful career, playing for top European clubs such as Manchester United and Juventus.
However, the recent events have left a deep impact on him, causing him to question the true nature of fame and fortune.
