Monaco midfielder and World Cup winner Paul Pogba has announced a major investment in the sport of camel racing, becoming a shareholder and ambassador for the Saudi Arabia-based team, Al Haboob.
Al Haboob, which claims to be the world’s first professional camel racing team, competes across the Gulf region.
The 32-year-old French star told BBC Sport that his interest stemmed from researching the traditional sport, noting that its core values align with football.
“At the end of the day, sport is sport. It demands heart, sacrifice and teamwork,” Pogba said, adding that “determination, focus, discipline and grit” are what make champions in any field.
Pogba, who was once the world’s most expensive footballer, joked about his ambition in his new venture: “Owning the world’s most expensive camel one day would be a beautiful full-circle moment.”
Al Haboob founder Omar Almaeena called the partnership “transformational,” stating that Pogba’s involvement helps share a heritage that deserves global recognition.
The investment comes shortly after Pogba’s return to professional football on November 22 following an 18-month ban, which was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) after a doping violation.
