Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has opened up on his Islam faith saying that becoming a Muslim made him ‘better person’.
In an interview with British daily The Times' Life Times, Pogba said he was not raised as a Muslim despite his mother practicing Islam.
He revealed that he started ‘questioning himself over a lot of things’ before turning to Islam and becoming ‘more peaceful inside’.
Pogba became interested in Islam after he decided to research the religion and follow a number of his friends by turning to the faith and the Man United midfielder credits the decision with helping to make him a better person.
Last month he was pictured along with Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma performing umrah pilgrimage to Mecca.
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During an interview for The Times‘Life Times podcast, the 26 year old midfielder was asked what Islam meant to him, to which he said: “It’s everything. That’s what makes me thankful for everything.”
“It made me change, realise things in life. I guess, maybe, it makes me more peaceful inside. It was a good change in my life because I wasn’t born a Muslim, even if my mum was. I just grew up like that, respect for everyone,” he added.
When asked why he decided to become a Muslim now, the French footballer said: “It came because I have a lot of friends who are Muslim. We always talk.”
He further added: “I was questioning myself in a lot of things, then I started doing my own research. I prayed once with my friends and I felt something different. I felt really good.”
He also admitted he did so in order to help him focus.
“It’s really a religion that opened my mind and that makes me, maybe, a better person. You have a human relationship and respect you for who you are, what religion you are, what colour and everything. Islam is just this – respect towards humanity”.
Meanwhile, the 26-year-old midfielder is a summer target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are ready to pay £135million to sign the France World Cup winner but Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has established that he will not sell him this summer.
