Former Manchester United star Paul Pogba has told French authorities he is the subject of an £11million blackmail plot.
The midfielder, who signed for Juventus in the summer on a free transfer, is believed to have named childhood friends as suspects and claims he was threatened by men with assault rifles.
An investigation has been opened into the claims from Paul Pogba
The news agency AFP said French police had opened an investigation, citing a source close to the case.
Pogba says the childhood mates had insisted they had 'protected him discreetly' for more than a decade, and wanted money for their 'services'.
Meanwhile, he claims acts of intimidation were carried out in Manchester in April, and later around Italian city of Turin.
And there is also an allegation the ex-Man United player was taken to a flat in Lagny-sur-Marne, Paris, where he was raised, in March where he was accused of not helping the gang financially.
The opening of the investigation came after his brother Mathias made a statement on social media which promised 'explosive information' that could 'affect his sibling's popularity around the world'.
In a speech cited by the Daily Mail, the former Wrexham player said on Saturday: "The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, in other words, 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.
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Paul and brother Mathias were once close but it appears this is no longer the case
"If he deserves his place in the French team and the honour of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.
"If he is a trustworthy person, that any player deserves to have at his side."
Mathias also made comments about Paul's current agent Rafaela Pimenta where he questioned 'her integrity, her professionalism... her loyalty'.
Paul Pogba's mother and lawyer Yeo Moriba teamed up with Pimenta to respond to Mathias' claims.
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Pogba is being supported by his mother and his agent
A note said: "Mathias Pogba's recent statements on social networks are unfortunately not a surprise.
"They are in addition to threats and organised extortion attempts by an organised gang against Paul Pogba.
"The competent bodies in Italy and France were informed a month ago and there will be no further comments in relation to the ongoing investigation."
Pogba's eldest brother, though, has denied the claims about his involvement in the attempted extortion.
He wrote: "Paul, you really wanted to shut me up completely to lie and send me to prison, I suspected it now it's true, my version of the facts happens and unlike you."
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