According to reports from Sky Sports this afternoon, Barcelona presidential nominee Joan Laporta has vowed to target Juventus star Paul Pogba if he wins the club’s election next month.
The former Manchester United youngster has emerged as one of the top central midfielders in world football since swapping Old Trafford for the Old Lady in summer 2012, going on to win three consecutive Serie A titles and boasting an eclectic mix of imperious physicality, technical trickery and netting prowess.
The 22 year-old is also one of world football’s most wanted, with no less than seven top European clubs believed to be courting his signature this summer, not least including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and PSG.
The French champions are believed to have launched a £65million bid earlier this month, but recent speculation has suggested Pogba will elect to stay with Juventus for another year before joining Barcelona in summer 2016 – when they will no longer be under a transfer embargo.
And Joan Laporta, who is hoping to be reinstated as Barcelona president following his prior stint from 2003 to 2010, has made signing the France international a significant part of his election platform.
“Pogba would be a great signing,” Laporta told Catalunya Radio. “He is a very strong player, very young and he is enthusiastic to arrive here. Everyone believes he would fit in Barca’s system.
“I have a good relationship with Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, since the time when we signed Maxwell and (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic,” he added.
Laporta will face four more candidates and incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu in the election on July 18th.