Paul Pogba went into a special business.
Paul Pogba moved to AS Monaco in the summer. EPA / AOP
French footballer Paul Pogba has opened a surprising new direction in social media outside of his career.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who plays for the French premier league club Monaco, has joined a sport that is almost unknown in Europe.
Pogba has invested in camel races and has become a shareholder and ambassador of the Saudi Arabian Al Haboob stable.
It is the world’s first fully professional camel racing team and competes in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The cooperation council includes, among others, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, and the goal is to build an actual professional series.
Pogba told for the BBC through familiarization with their interest.
– I have watched a lot of competitions on Youtube and used my free time to understand techniques and tactics. What impressed me the most was how much dedication the sport requires from everyone involved. In the end, sports are always sports. It takes heart, sacrifice and cooperation, Pogba said.
A prestigious sport
Camel racing is a prestigious sport in the Middle East. PDO
Camel racing is a traditional and prestigious sport in the Middle East, where considerable sums of money are also involved. At their fastest, camels can reach a speed of over 60 kilometers per hour. The prices of individual top individuals have risen to millions of euros The Daily Mail by.
According to Pogba, there are more similarities between different sports than you might think.
– Whether it’s football, camel racing or boxing, the basis is the same. It takes determination, focus, discipline and tenacity. Champions are born from them, the Frenchman told the BBC.
Pogba, once known as a top-class midfielder, has had plenty of time to familiarize himself with the camels, as he was banned for 18 months due to a doping scandal. The Frenchman was released from the collar in March.
Pogba briefly became the most expensive player in football history in August 2016, when Manchester United paid around 105 million euros for his return from Juventus. In a way, the Frenchman’s plans include closing the circle.
– Being the most expensive footballer in the world was an honor, but it came with a huge amount of pressure and responsibility. The thought of one day owning the world’s most valuable camel would be a great way to come full circle. It would be fun and meaningful. Maybe it will come true one day, Pogba said.
Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky also represents the monacolaisseura.