Paul Pogba has spoken out following the sentencing of his brother, Mathias Pogba, who was handed a three-year prison sentence—two years suspended—on charges of extortion, sequestration, and participation in a criminal association.
The verdict also saw five of Pogba’s childhood friends receive eight-year sentences for their involvement in a plot targeting the former Juventus midfielder.
The case, which has cast a long shadow over Pogba’s personal and professional life, reached its conclusion on Thursday. While the French international chose not to attend the trial, he shared his feelings in a reflective statement to AFP. “There is no winner in this case, which involves members of my family and people that I have known since childhood,” Pogba admitted.
The saga’s resolution offers Pogba a chance to refocus. “I can now finally turn the page on this extremely painful period,” he noted, expressing a renewed determination to prioritize his football career.
With his doping ban reduced to 18 months on appeal, Pogba will resume training in January and return to competitive action by March, as he eyes a fresh start on and off the pitch.
