Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4:50 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 4:50 p.m.
Paul Pogba (31 years old), world champion with France in 2018 and recently returned to the field for AS Monaco after almost two years marked by suspension for doping and injuries, made a surprising move outside of football: he became a shareholder and ambassador of the professional camel racing team Al Haboob, from Saudi Arabia, the international press announces.
The midfielder revealed to the BBC that the new passion is not accidental at all:
Paul Pogba: “I watched a lot of racing on YouTube”
Pogba also noted the similarities between sports, regardless of nature:
“I watched quite a lot of camel racing on YouTube and spent a lot of free time looking for information and trying to understand techniques and strategies. What amazes me is the total dedication this sport requires from all participants.
We don't realize it, but sports always create connections. Whether it's football, camel racing or boxing, the basic idea is the same: determination, focus, discipline, perseverance.”
Why did the French midfielder choose this project?
Al Haboob, the team Pogba invested in, was founded in 2021 by entrepreneurs Omar Almaeena and Sawfan Modir. With his involvement, the French star says he is pursuing more than a financial opportunity:
“I want to be part of a project that goes beyond sports, that brings people together and highlights traditions that are worth celebrating,” said the Monaco footballer, according to the quoted source.
Camel racing, a sport with robot jockeys
Camel racing is extremely popular in the Middle East and combines tradition with modern technology. The highly valuable camels are trained for speed and endurance, and human jockeys are replaced by remote-controlled robots to protect the animals' integrity.
