Paul Pogba claims he is being threatened by gangsters who are trying to extort him.
French police have opened an investigation into the footballer’s claims, according to the AFP news agency.
It comes after the Juventus star’s brother claimed he planned to make “big revelations” that would make fans and team-mates look at him in a different light.
Mathias Pogba’s social media video also promised to reveal “very important things” about Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, as well as “integrity” issues about Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta.
He said: “I think the French, Italian and English public, my brother’s fans, and even more the French national team, Juventus, my brother’s teammates and their sponsors, deserve to know certain things in order to be informed. decide whether he deserves the public’s admiration, respect and love.”
Posting the clip in four languages, Mathias Pogba, who has played for Crawley Town and Partick Thistle, says his motivations will be revealed in time and that his allegations are “explosive”.
In a statement, Paul Pogba’s lawyers, mother and agent said: “Mathias Pogba’s recent statements on social media unfortunately do not come as a surprise. They come after threats and attempts at extortion by on the one hand organized against Paul Pogba.
“The competent bodies in Italy and France were informed a month ago and there will be no further comment in relation to the ongoing investigation.”
In response to the statement on Sunday evening, Mathias Pogba posted a series of tweets with more baseless claims, writing in French that “people will see that there is no more coward, more traitor and more hypocrite than you on this earth” .
Pogba is currently sidelined with injury at Juventus but is expected to return soon and be part of France’s squad for this winter’s World Cup in Qatar. He previously played for Manchester United.