Paul Pogba gives shocking statement to police over alleged extortion plot: 'The two guys pointed their weapons at me..'

Paul Pogba has told French police that he agreed to pay two armed men money after being held up at gunpoint during an alleged extortion attempt.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in a Parisian apartment on March 19, with the armed men part of a gang demanding a €13m payment from the Juventus midfielder.

French publication RMC claim Pogba paid the gang €100,000 in a bid to satisfy their demands, with the France international later contacting the police.

Pogba's older brother, Mathias, has subsequently been charged and detained for his alleged involvement in the plot.

Four other men have also been placed under formal investigation for extortion and criminal association in relation to the alleged extortion attempt.

Pogba described the terrifying moment he was approached by the armed men in a statement to French police.

"I was scared. The two guys pointed their weapons at me," Pogba said, as reported by Le Monde.

"So, having been held up like that, under threat, I told them that I was going to pay."

Pogba has reportedly been placed under police protection in Italy (Image: Alamy)

The alleged extortion attempt came to light last month when Mathias Pogba, 32, released a video vowing to disclose "explosive" information about his younger brother.

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," said Mathias Pogba.

Paul Pogba's camp released a statement in response to Mathias' video, claiming the midfielder was the target of a long-running blackmail plot.

Pogba's older brother Mathias has been charged over his alleged involvement in the extortion attempt (Image: Alamy)

The former Manchester United midfielder later told police about the alleged extortion attempt in Paris and also claimed to have been intimated several times since, with the gang allegedly turning up at Juventus' training ground in July.

It is claimed that the group were demanding money for "services rendered", claiming that they had discreetly protected Pogba for 13 years.

Mathias has denied the accusations against him, labelling his younger brother "a coward, traitor and hypocrite".

Meanwhile, his lawyer - Yassine Bouzrou - told French broadcaster BFMTV after his client was charged: "We are going to challenge this decision."

Reports in France claim Pogba, 29, has now been placed under police protection in Italy, while their French counterparts continue to investigate the allegations.

Pogba moved from Manchester United to Juventus in the summer but is currently sidelined after undergoing knee surgery just weeks after re-joining the Italian club.

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