sport news Paul Pogba DID hire a witchdoctor - but not to put a spell on France team-mate ... trends now

sport news Paul Pogba DID hire a witchdoctor - but not to put a spell on France team-mate ... trends now
sport news Paul Pogba DID hire a witchdoctor - but not to put a spell on France team-mate ... trends now

sport news Paul Pogba DID hire a witchdoctor - but not to put a spell on France team-mate ... trends now

There is always a sense of magic when Kylian Mbappé weaves in and out of multiple defenders to score a breath-taking solo goal.

France's 23-year-old superstar striker certainly mesmerised a Paris crowd on Thursday to score the opener in a 2-0 win over Austria.

What made the strike in the Nations League game particularly significant, however, is that it came after a witch doctor allegedly used supernatural powers to destroy his talent.

The Marabout – an African mystic who claims vague links to Islam – is said to have been paid by Paul Pogba, the 29-year-old France and ex-Manchester United midfielder, to cast evil spells on Mbappé, 23, investigators have been told.

Jealously of a younger teammate was the motive, it is claimed by suspects charged with trying to blackmail Pogba out of more than £11million.

Five of them, including one of Pogba's elder brothers, are now on remand and facing up to 20 years each in prison over a range of charges including 'extortion in an organised gang'.

They claim to have recorded a video showing Pogba speaking to the Marabout, who calls himself 'Ibrahim the Great' and charges as much as €100 (£88) an hour for his services

Paul Pogba reportedly claims he used a sorcerer to help him with injuries he picked up during his football career

Paul Pogba reportedly claims he used a sorcerer to help him with injuries he picked up during his football career 

As the case intensifies, the Mail on Sunday has learnt that Pogba did indeed pay a sorcerer to help him with his injury-plagued career.

However, he vehemently denies that this had anything to do with Mbappé and said he 'never intended to harm anyone'.

Pogba instead told investigators working for France's Central Office for the Fight against Organised Crime (OCLCO) that he was 'looking to be protected against injury' and 'also to help poor kids in Africa' he was in connection with through an aid organisation.

Two judicial sources in Paris confirmed the revelations – and the transcript from interviews completed last month – as they worked on the explosive investigation.

Called 'Operation Penalty', it is not only creating hell for Pogba himself – he is under police protection while ruled out of playing because of injury – but threatening to scupper France's defence of their World Cup in Qatar in November.

Pogba, left, denied that he had used a mystic on his French teammate Kylian Mbappe, right

Pogba, left, denied that he had used a mystic on his French teammate Kylian Mbappe, right 

Further horrifying details from the investigation include Pogba describing how he was threatened by two hooded men brandishing assault rifles after being lured into a flat in Chanteloup-en-Brie, in the eastern suburbs of Paris on March 19.

He was in the city on international duty, four days after a burglary in Manchester which saw his wife, Zulay, and the couple's two young boys threatened.

Also present in the Paris property were four of Pogba's childhood friends, identified as Boubacar C., Adama C. and two brothers called Roushdane and Machikour K.

Pogba claims he had his mobile phone taken away and was told to pay the £11million in return for 'protection fees' going back 13 years – the length of his professional career – and also for a guarantee that the Marabout evidence, contained on a USB stick, would not be released.

'I was scared,' said Pogba. 'The two guys pointed their guns at me. Given I was being held like that at gunpoint, I told them I'd pay.

'They shouted: 'Shut up, look down'. One of them spoke in Roushdane's ear. When the two hooded guys left, Roushdane told me I had to pay otherwise we were all in danger.

Paul Pogba (right) has claimed his brother Mathias (left) was involved in an extortion attempt

Paul Pogba (right) has claimed his brother Mathias (left) was involved in an extortion attempt 

'Roushdane said what had happened was usual when you are a famous footballer, but that I had to pay because he had vouched for me.'

Pogba began trying to raise the money, before being released at 4am, while being told that he would be watched.

In turn, the childhood friends said they were being threatened by a mafia-style

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