FC Barcelona have beaten off competition from Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Chelsea FC to agree a A?64m deal for Juventus star Paul Pogba according to reports in Gazzetta Dello Sports and Sport, despite Juventus president denying the transfer agreement but confirming a 80m Euros offer.
The future of Paul Pogba has been the subject of intense speculation over the past few weeks, and if reports in Catalan media are to be believed, the French midfielder has been snapped up by FC Barcelona.
Catalan newspaper Sport had on Sunday claimed that Juventus had the following three offers on the table for the former Manchester United youngster: a 80m + a 10m in add-ons from FC Barcelona to purchase in July 2016, a 50m + Brazilian midfielder Oscar from Chelsea FC to purchase this summer, and a cash-only a 100m offer from Manchester City to purchase the France international this summer.
The report claims that FC Barcelonaa s transfer ban this summer might actually work to their advantage; not only does Pogba reportedly favour a move to Spain, the ban also allows Juventus and Massimiliano Allegri to keep the Frenchman for another season a to potentially launch another bid to win the Champions League.
However, Gazzetta dello Sport report claims that Juventus director Beppe Marotta had dinner with FC Barcelona transfer guru Ariedo Braida in Milan on Sunday evening and reached a consensus over the transfer of Paul Pogba with FC Barcelona paying just shy of A?57m for the France international with a further A?7m in add-ons.
The report also says that is irrelevant who wins the FC Barcelona election on 18th July, as both Joan Laporta . and Josep Maria Bartomeu made it clear they want the Frenchman.
Laporta had earlier claimed that he will sign Paul Pogba from Juventus, if he wins the election on 18th of July.
He insisted that Pogba is a enthusiastica about signing for the Catalan club, and also has also confirmed that Juventus are looking to sell the player at the right price to him should he become the president.
It remains to be seen how much truth is in the claims of Laporta that Juventus are looking to sell the midfielder.
Paul Pogba is certainly not short of options, with FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Chelsea FC all queuing up for the midfielder. It remains to be seen where the Juventus midfielder will head, if at all he is allowed to move.
Update:
Juventus chief Marotta confirmed last night that they had met FC Barcelona representatives and an offer for Paul Pogba worth a 80m was discussed, but, rejected: “The mood of the meeting was very good, terrific, but we did not reach an agreement for Pogba with Barca.”
“We received an offer of a 80m but I can say that Juve do not want to sell Pogba.”
However, Catalan newspaper Sport, yesterday, were adamant that a gentleman’s agreement has been reached between the two clubs with the deal to be sealed after the Barcelona presidential election on 18th July with the player set to move to the Catalan giants for 2016/17 season.
Betting was also suspended by Sky bet with news emerging of a deal done between the two clubs.
We’ve suspended betting on Paul Pogba’s next club amid reports the Frenchman is set to join Barcelona
a Sky Bet (@SkyBet) July 1, 2015