Pogba a cut above for clash with little brother
Florentin Pogba has marked the “magical” encounter against his younger brother, Paul, by having both of their squad numbers shaved into his hair.
Anticipation has built since Manchester United and St-Étienne drew each other in the Europa League last 32, pitting the Pogba brothers against one another. The siblings have come a long way from the artificial pitches of Roissy-enBrie in the Parisian suburbs – and Florentin is celebrating the occasion with the kind of haircut his brother would be proud of.
A bleached No 19, the St-Étienne defender’s squad number, has been cut into his hair, with Paul’s No6 crafted into the other side ahead of the first leg at Old Trafford.
“It’s going to be a magical moment,” Florentin said. “No anguish at all, absolute excitement for me. It’s all positive. I’m really passionate about the game and I cannot wait to play in this historic stadium and to play against my little brother, so it’ll be fun.”
The 26-year-old hopes the last-32 tie goes the same way as the table tennis matches against his “little brother” as St-Étienne look to secure a shock result in Manchester.
Their mother, Yeo, will be at the first leg, and at next Wednesday’s return fixture in France.
“Mum’s going to be here,” said Florentin. “Obviously, these things don’t happen very often in a player’s career, the chance to see her two sons playing against each other. She can’t lose really, can she?
“We’ve given each other some stick, and there was some banter straight after the draw was made, but since then we’ve been so focused on our respective league games,” Florentin said.
“It’s a momentous occasion for us and, for sure, I’ll be swapping shirts with him.”