Pogba: Ali is my hero and I am eager to change the world

In an interview with Sky Sports, Pogba said that the boxing king Ali is his hero, and Ali's story has better encouraged himself and made pogba what he is today.

Footballers can often be heroes for hundreds of fans, so who do you think was your hero when you were growing up?

Ali. He's the one I think can save people. Heroes can save lives and help others, and I think that's what Ali does. He saved a lot of people, not in the same way as saving people from disasters, but by transmitting positive energy, helping the world, telling the truth in the most difficult circumstances, he was a man who dared to speak the truth in the dark days, he spoke on behalf of black people, and helped us to get the freedom we have today.

You're talking about one of the greatest athletes of all time, but does his achievements on the boxing stage make him even more special?

That's why he can be a hero, a legend. Obviously, as you can imagine, it was a tough time, and my parents would tell me about his contributions to the Negroes, that he was a legend. And he's also a wise man, and you'll try to learn from people like him.

Did your parents specifically mention Ali with you?

My father, when he first came to France, was attacked when he was on the bus and people said something racist to him. You can only accept, you have to stay calm, my father always told me to stay calm, smart, inclusive, wiser than the person who humiliated you, so don't overreact. You need to be clear about who you are, and you always have to be proud of yourself, proud of the color of your skin, always proud of yourself.

How brave was Ali in America at the time? The racism there is severe, so you can be like him...

I think he gave us different ways of behaving, he was very smart and knew how to make a sound, but he wasn't going to offend anybody because people might say, 'Oh, he's offending white people.' But he sends a very good message, and in moments like this, if you speak in front of the media, in front of the television, you can be killed, he has personality, charisma, he expresses himself in a joking way, in a good way, so that people will understand him and not feel offended.

I think I see a shadow of Ali in you...

I hope so. Because I want to say that I learned something from him, how to keep faith in myself and be good to myself. I like to smile, joke, laugh out loud, dance, that's who I am, I want to be myself. Everyone has their own story, and I'm also interested in learning about his story.

How important do you think such an example is to you?

These people may affect 10 children, or the whole world, but 10 children or 100 children will affect other children and show them: 'Look, I have a friend like this, a black man.'