Kylian Mbappe has brushed off claims that Paul Pogba asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on him, insisting he ‘prefers to believe the word’ of his France team-mate, Nathan Salt and Kieran Lynch report for MAILONLINE.

Pogba’s brother Mathias has published multiple videos to social media promising ‘great revelations’ about the Juventus star – one of which was that he sought to put a curse upon Mbappe, something Paul Pogba has strenuously denied.

Despite Pogba playing no part when Juventus face Mbappe’s Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League this week, the French striker did address the allegations at his press conference.

‘Today I prefer to believe the word of my team-mate,’ Mbappe said.

‘It is his word against the word of his brother, I am going to believe my team-mate.

‘It’s not a time to put more onto him. I’m pretty detached from it all.’

Mbappe and Pogba won the FIFA World Cup together in 2018 and they will both be desperate to ensure that, in another World Cup year, the midfielder’s row with his brother does not hamper their chances of defending their title.

With Pogba having denied allegations of witchcraft against Mbappe, the striker, who spoke to his team-mate for clarity on how he has been dragged into this row, is now ready to move on from it.

‘He called me, he gave his version of the facts,’ Mbappe added.

Pogba reportedly confirmed to investigators that he did seek the help of a witch doctor but for the sole purpose of warding off injuries and never to place any omens onto a team-mate.

The midfielder’s brother Mathias took to Twitter to address Mbappe directly over the witchcraft allegation.

Mbappe wants to trust the word of his team-mate and says Pogba called him to talk it through

‘Kylian, do you understand now?’ he wrote.

‘I have nothing against you, what I am saying is for your own good, everything is true and known, the witch doctor is known!’

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Friday that they have opened a formal judicial investigation into allegations by Pogba that he was the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organized gang.

The extraordinary saga began almost two weeks ago when Pogba’s eldest brother Mathias released a video on social media, vowing he would soon make a series of ‘great revelations’ about the World Cup winner.

He said during the video: ‘The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, as well as my brother’s fans — and even more so the French team and Juventus, my brother’s teammates and his sponsors — deserve to know certain things.

‘In order to make an informed decision if he deserves the admiration, respect and love of the public.

‘Whether he deserves his place in the French team and the honor of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.

‘If he is a trustworthy person, that any player would want to have at his side.’

The ex-Man United star reportedly told authorities that he was held hostage by armed gunmen

Soon after the post was made, the Juventus midfielder released a statement – signed by his lawyers, his mother Yeo Moriba and current agent Rafaela Pimenta – admitting that Mathias’ videos were ‘unfortunately no surprise’.

The statement read: ‘They (the videos) are in addition to threats and extortion attempts by an organized 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.’

It is believed the gang which Pogba has claimed have tried to extort him demanded £11million from the French midfielder for ‘protection services’ stretching back 13 years, including the time he spent in Manchester when he played for Manchester United.

But in January he kicked one out his house in Manchester after discovering that the unidentified man had used Pogba’s credit card to steal €200,000 – the equivalent of £170,000.

Many in France have thrown their support behind Paul Pogba as the case continues to be investigated.

French football president Noel Le Graet, as one example, has given his full support.

Le Graet told L’Equipe: ‘This case is in the hands of the police. An investigation is underway.

‘At this point, I won’t make any further comments other than to show my support for Paul Pogba.

‘Paul is a man I hold in high esteem, he’s highly appreciated by the entire Federation.

‘He has always been exemplary for the France team for almost ten years after having shone in all of the youth teams. I hope to see him again very soon, on the pitch and in great shape.’

Pogba claims the gang has been threatening him for four months.

Acts of intimidation were carried out in Manchester in April, and later around the Italian city of Turin, where Pogba currently plays for Juventus.

The gang is also said to have taken Pogba to flat in the Paris suburb of Lagny-sur-Marne, where Pogba grew up, at the end of March. There, the gang members accused Pogba of not helping them financially since he became a professional player.

During police interviews, Paul Pogba said he had always been close to his childhood friends and helped them out financially when he could.