Football
Julien Laurens, Correspondent 5y

Paul Pogba to pay for NBA-style rings for France World Cup winners - sources

Paul Pogba will pay for NBA-style World Cup winning diamond-encrusted rings for France's World Cup-winning squad, sources have told ESPN FC.

French FA president Noel Le Graet said on Tuesday that it will pick up the bill of around €10,000 for the transportation of the rings from Los Angeles to Paris.

The price of each piece has not been confirmed yet but they will be made of 11 carat diamonds with blue sapphires and red rubies.

The idea was pitched to the squad by Antoine Griezmann and Pogba, who are both NBA fans and want to emulate the tradition in U.S. sports of having a diamond ring made for each winner of a major title.

However, sources have told ESPN FC it created some tension among French players, mostly to do with the financing. In private, some were not keen on paying for it, and others didn't think that the French federation should get involved in the payment either, while the fans' reaction also played a factor.

In July, Griezmann contacted Jason of Beverly Hills, the Californian jewellers that created the rings for the Golden State Warriors for their 2017 NBA title and the Los Angeles Dodgers for their 2017 NLCS victory.

At the moment, each player has a small replica of the World Cup trophy.

The French federation could also organise a special ceremony to present the rings to the players.

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