the punchy testimony of Mathias Pogba

Since November 26, the protagonists of the famous Pogba affair have paraded before the Paris Criminal Court. If Paul Pogba is missing, which also caused the annoyance of the defense who had made a request for referral (it was rejected, editor's note); the six people apparently involved in this dark story appear one after the other before the courts. As a reminder, they are accused of attempted extortion. Five of them, except Mathias Pogba; are also singled out for having participated directly or indirectly in the kidnapping of the former Juventus player. After almost 5 days of trial, Tuesday December 3 marked an important step with the hearing of Mathias Pogba.

The rest after this ad

Indeed, Pioche’s older brother had to give his testimony. A moment inevitably awaited. Especially since he was initially scheduled to speak last Thursday morning. But the trial was seriously delayed. Expected at the bar on Friday, then Saturday, Florentin's twin brother did not wish to speak, as one of the defense lawyers had clarified. “How, in the country of human rights, can we hear someone under these conditions? He risks prison. He is gambling with his life. We’re not in China here.” His request was heard and accepted. Expected this Tuesday morning, he did not show up on time. The president had also admitted to being disappointed to have only one defendant out of six, notably Mathias Pogba (34 years old) who was absent “without explanation”.

Mathias Pogba tells his version of the facts

But his lawyer had clarified that he was stuck in traffic jams. Once arriving at the court, Paul Pogba's brother, who was accompanied by his mother Yeo Moriba, was questioned by the president in the afternoon. Mathias Pogba spoke about his relationship with his brother. His words are relayed by RMC Sport et The Team. “Our relations are normal, correct”he replied before indicating that he had not “no need” of money at the time of the facts since he had just signed with an Australian club and was just waiting for papers to join it. Then, he was questioned regarding the evening of March 19, 2022, during which his brother was kidnapped. He assured that he was not “no way” aware of this.

The rest after this ad

Then, he was questioned about the evening of March 20, the day after the events. He notably met his brother at an event. “It surprised me”he simply confided, before specifying: “if he (Paul Pogba, editor’s note) says it, it’s because it happened like that. He really hid it, I didn't see anything. I think it’s due to our nature.” Mathias Pogba also returned to the moment he learned that his brother had been kidnapped. “It’s in a gym in Noisy-le-Grand. I meet Machikour and Boubacar by pure chance. I was getting ready to go to Australia”he explained before indicating that he would not have known about it if he had not met these two people in July 2022. He added on this subject: “They tell me that something crazy has happened. They explain to me that they were all robbed by the kidnappers, that they are all victims. Since then, they no longer have any connection with Paul, and everyone is in danger.”

Return to the various attacks

Mathias Pogba, who admitted to also feeling in danger because of his brotherly relationship, continued his story: “When I decide to go to Turin, it is with the aim of everyone talking to each other at the same table. (…) I told him: “I have to talk to you, face to face, because the family is in danger. I can’t tell you that over the phone.” I am told that he said he was going to pay 13 million euros and that Roushdane K. had acted as guarantor. I don't know what this amount corresponds to. When I go there, I just want someone to sit down and tell me what happened. (…) What brings me to Turin is my little brother. But when I arrive there, I wait for hours. They tell me he’s coming and he doesn’t come.” Raised on the subject of family quarrels within the Pogba clan, he kicked in: “At that time, I was in full preparation for my departure to Australia.”

The rest after this ad

The older brother also spoke of the threats he himself received at the end of July, at the home of Roushdane and Machikour K's parents. “When the armed robbers arrive at our level in the car, Mamadou M. bends down and I hear: 'tell your brother to pay! Otherwise next time it's in Santeny (the house of the Pogba's mother). Afterwards I didn't leave my house for 5 days.” Paralyzed, Mathias Pogba does not file a complaint. Then, he warned his mother along with other defendants. “The purpose of this is to tell my mother what’s happening to us.” However, Yeo Moriba assures that this visit was to put pressure on Paul to pay the requested amount. “It wasn’t that at all (…) But I told him. Maybe with everything that happened, she forgot, but if I come, it’s to tell her”said Mathias Pogba.

Mathias Pogba charge Roushdane K.

The rest of the interrogation was devoted to the threatening videos recorded and published by the former attacker in August 2022. “I did it because he (Paul) didn't tell me anything, he didn't call me, I try to get in touch with him without success, lots of things happen to me… I I'm in the jungle, there, it's as if someone had said to me: “get over it”. That's how I experienced it. So, ok, I'm no longer Mathias, I'm in emotional shock, I'm no longer thinking correctly. Today I regret it 100% but at that moment it was my only way out, even though a lot of people told me not to do it.” He added that he knew he could harm his brother. “At that point, I wasn’t thinking straight anymore. Whatever comes into my head, I do it”he admitted, before responding regarding the statements of Rafaela Pimienta, who indicated that Pioche knew that his loved ones were potentially in danger.

The rest after this ad

“I didn’t have that feeling. He should have spoken to me through my mother or my other brother, even if he couldn't get in touch with me directly. I wish I had learned it before. (…) The main one attacked is me. I wish I had known about everything Paul was feeling. Rafaela and Paul talked a lot to each other, I didn't know anything. (…) I made a million mistakes for a month. (…) I understood when all my aunts called me in tears. I screwed up. » He took advantage of his hearing to highlight the responsibilities of Roushdane K. in the publication of the videos. “Today, I can say that I was pushed, indirectly. At the time, not necessarily, but, with everything I heard during the proceedings and at the trial, yes, I was pushed,” he begins before dropping the name of « Roushdane » after a new question from one of Paul Pogba's lawyers, “What if I felt like I was being manipulated? Yes, by Roushdane. »

Mathias Pogba : «I think, in hindsight, that Paul had a lack of confidence in me»

Why implicate his childhood friend, asks Me Daphné Pugliesi, Roushdane K's lawyer. “He didn’t tell me the truth, the one I read through the trial. He told me everyone was inside (during the robbery). Already, this is not the case (Machikour K., Boubacar C. and Mamadou M. had emerged). » Mathias Pogba still recognizes a video, deleted from his phone, which he describes as “very violent» showing the attack on Roushdane K., victim of a shot in the hand. “This video has a link with Paul Pogba? »asks Me Pugliesi. « Oui.» Although he claims not to remember a RIB sent by Adama C. to his phone, the ex-Guinean international concludes his interrogation with a form of regret towards his brother. “I think, looking back, that Paul had a lack of confidence in me. For what ? I don't know what to answer. » He denies a purely financial relationship, which Paul had denounced. “The relationship was fraternal. (…) I am a soldier. I will always look for myself, no need to ask left and right.” Finally, facing his lawyer Mbeko Tabula, Mathias Pogba recognizes that this affair “I have an impact” on the last months of the career of the man who has just left Juventus.