According to reports from Sky Sports this afternoon, Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has rather sensationally ruled out a move to Barcelona next summer.
The Juventus star is widely regarded as one of the top central midfielders in world football, having claimed three consecutive Serie A titles and reached the 2015 Champions League final with the Old Lady. He also lifted Europe’s prestigious Golden Boy award in 2013 – the accolade handed to the best player under 21 years of age.
Widespread interest in the 22 year-old is no great secret. He was linked with no less than seven top European clubs during the summer, including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG. Barcelona allegedly saw an €80million bid rejected in July, whilst Premier League champions Chelsea held negotiations over a big-money move during the final week of the transfer window.
In October, outspoken agent Mino Raiola claimed any potential suitor will have to pay €100million to sign the France international next summer, with the Blues and Manchester City representing the Premier League’s most interested parties.
But it appears one club no longer in the running is Barcelona. As quoted by Sky Sports, Raiolo told Italian radio programme La politica nel Pallone; “Barcelona? If I’m honest, no, because we’d already spoken with them and there was no chance of them buying him.”
However, the Italian agent – who also represents Everton’s Romelu Luaku – went on to reveal that Pogba could decide to stay on at Juventus past the end of the season, having rejected three offers to leave during the summer.
He continued; “In the end there were three big clubs with €85m euros on the table, or a little more including add-ons, which took the total to €100m, but a deal was not concluded because Pogba didn’t want to leave and Juventus wanted him to stay for at least another year.
“Why not [stay at Juventus]? We turned down several teams last year, we’re looking for the right moment. This means that Pogba has not yet decided to definitely leave at the end of the season.”