FC Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says the the European champions will not sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba in 2015.
The future of Paul Pogba has been subject of intense speculation over the past few weeks, with recent reports in Catalan media suggesting that Juventus and FC Barcelona have reached a gentlemana s agreement regarding the transfer of the player in 2016/17 season.
However, contrary to the reports, Juventus confirmed that Barcelona did have a bid rejected for Paul Pogba in a meeting between the representatives of the two clubs.
Catalan newspaper Sport had claimed earlier 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.
FC Barcelona were thought to be the front runners to secure the deal for the player with the outgoing president Bartomeu confirming that he was looking to bring in the player, as well as Joan Laporta, who is the other favorite for the president’s position with the election due on 18th of July, saying that he would sign the player should he become the president.
Bartomeu has now come out and confirmed that the Catalan giants will not be signing the player this year.
“We will not buy Pogba this year,” the current FC Barcelona president told reporters.
“We are not planning with him for next season. He is not part of our sporting plans for 2015-16 at this stage.”
However, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has hinted that Paul Pogba could still leave the club. And with FC Barcelona ruling themselves out for the player, could this potentially mean Manchester City have a clear path to snap the former Manchester United man should they agree to a fee with Juventus?
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Well, this saga still has some more twists to go before it ends. Surely.