Pogba’s ‘super mum’ was ‘strict’ with Man Utd star growing up and quit her job when he moved to Old Trafford aged 16
WHEN the Pogba entourage arrives, there is always one woman at the centre of attention.
Yeo Moriba, mother of Manchester United superstar Paul Pogba and twin brothers Mathias and Florentin, is the matriarch of the family who's credited with their incredible success.
Messages of love and appreciation are publicly expressed by her three sons, which is no surprise given her sacrifices.
Yeo was born in Guinea where she developed a love for sport — and football in particular — but moved to France, setting up home in suburban Paris.
On the rough Renardiere housing estate in Roissy-en-Brie, Yeo raised the three boys on her own in a modest council flat.
She separated from her husband Antoine, who was a telecommunications engineer in Guinea, in 1996 when Paul was just two years old.
ALL PAUL TOGETHER
Antoine, who passed away in May 2017 at the age of 79, still had a bond with his sons and watched Pogba play at Euro 2016.
But raising the three boys was down to Yeo, who the boys often refer to as 'super mum'.
Bringing them up to become household names took love, but also discipline.
"It wasn't easy, but when you have boys and you have to raise them by yourself you have to be very strict with them. You must be strict and gentle at the same time," Yeo told Fifa.com.
By the time the Pogba boys reached the age of five they were playing football for a local team.
It was a passion passed on by their mother.
"I played a lot of different sports but eventually chose football. We created a team and I was captain of our women's team," Yeo said.
"Maybe this was genetically passed to my children, I don't know."
Paul was three years younger than his brother but, as it turned out, the more talented of the trio.
At the age of 16, twins Mathias and Florentin moved to Spain to join Celta Vigo's academy while Paul was two hours away in Le Havre's academy.
"One weekend I would go and visit Paul, and the next weekend I’d visit the twins," Yeo said. "I would go to give them support, because it’s not easy leaving your family.
"Every time I left them I would give them this advice: ‘You left your country to reach a goal, so do your best to reach this goal.’"
MOVE TO MANCHESTER
Paul took one giant step towards it when he was signed by one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Manchester United had recognised the potential of the talented teen and plucked him from Le Havre in 2009.
This was when Yeo made the ultimate sacrifice.
Pogba was just 16 as he headed for Carrington to join Sir Alex Ferguson's academy.
"I quit my job to be with him," Yeo recalled. "Because we are so used to being together, I wanted to stay by his side. My full-time job is him."
And when Fergie decided to hold Pogba back from his starting line-up, he faced the wrath of Yeo.
The legendary hairdryer was turned around on him.
Yeo said: "We got together with Paul’s brothers and decided that he would not sign a new deal.
“Ferguson punished him by never playing Paul. He was alone.
"He even cried in Ferguson’s office for the way he was treated.”
So Pogba headed to Turin where he won eight titles, including four Scudetto, and was nominated for the Ballon d'Or in just four years.
Such impressive form saw a post-Ferguson United swallow their pride and fork out a then world record fee of £90milion to take Pogba back to Old Trafford.
It has been a turbulent ride, once again, with Pogba clashing with former boss Jose Mourinho and now looking for a move away from the club.
Agent Mino Raiola pushes his cause, but Yeo is his chief confidante.
My children are my friends. We tell each other everything. I always tell them that they can achieve anything, but be careful because life is complicated.
Paul Pogba's mum Yeo Moriba
She said: "My children are my friends. We tell each other everything. I always tell them that they can achieve anything, but be careful because life is complicated.
"I tell them at their age now, and even later on, as long as I'm alive I'll be here to guide them."
But it is Florentin and Mathias who perhaps required more guidance.
Mathias has had nine clubs in 10 years, with his latest move this summer to Manchego in the four level of Spanish football.
Florentin, now 28, is plying his trade in the MLS, with Atlanta United's second team, after six years at Saint-Etienne.
In February 2017, Paul and Florentin played against each other in a Europa League round of 32 tie.
United eased through with a 4-0 aggregate win but mum Yeo wore a half-and-half jersey.
Yeo's guidance for Pogba may even extend to his hairstyles.
He has been known for various styles, created by stylist A Star Barbers, including inscriptions and colours.
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That, Yeo says, is inherited from her. "I change mine all the time," she said.
World Cup winner Pogba's appreciation for his mother's sacrifice was shown by buying her a new flat in the Parisian commuter town of Bussy-Saint-Georges.
Yeo adds: "I think that my children respect and are happy with me because they always tell me, ‘It’s thanks to you that we are where we are today.’"
And when you're valued at £170m, earning £290,000-a-week and wanted by Real Madrid, there's plenty to be thankful for.