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Topics: Paul Pogba, Juventus, Football, France, Serie A
Rory O'Callaghan
Mathias Pogba has been taken into police custody in connection with an investigation into an alleged blackmail plot against his brother, Paul Pogba, according to reports in France.
French publication Le Monde, as reported by Get French Football News, claim Mathias Pogba turned himself in on Wednesday after being accused of being part of gang attempting armed extortion against his brother, Juventus midfielder Paul.
The report claims that three other individuals were also taken into custody in Paris.
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Le Monde has contacted lawyers both of Paul and Mathias Pogba, who are yet to respond.
Last month, France Info reported that Paul Pogba, 29, had told investigators that he was the target of a €13m blackmail plot from a gang involving his older brother.
It came after Mathias, 32, released a video vowing to disclose "explosive" information about his younger brother, who moved from Manchester United to Juventus this summer.
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.
The video was swiftly followed by an official statement from Paul Pogba's camp, which claimed the midfielder was being targeted by a blackmail plot.
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In conversations with the authorities, Pogba is understood to have claimed that he has been subjected to threats and attempted extortion from friends he has known since he was a child, including his brother.
He has cited an alleged incident in which he was intimidated by two hooded men carrying assault rifles in a Paris apartment, who demanded €13m from the France international.
Pogba told investigators that he has been intimidated several times since then, with the accused allegedly turning up at Juventus' training ground in July.
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Pogba is said to have recognised his brother, Mathias, among the group attempting to intimidate him in Turin.
It is claimed that the gang demanded the figure of €13m for "services rendered", claiming that they had protected Pogba for 13 years.
Pogba initially paid the gang €100,000 in a bid to "buy time" and "satisfy" their demands, according to French publication RMC, as reported by Get French Football News.
But he has decided to notify the police about the alleged plot after being approached by Juventus' lawyers, following the incident at the club's training centre in July.