Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde refused to rule out a move for Paul Pogba when questioned about a transfer in America.
Pogba has been linked with a stunning move to Barcelona this summer after he supposedly met with the club’s new director of football Eric Abidal.
Pogba’s Manchester United future has been thrown into doubt on the eve of the new Premier League season with the transfer window closing next week.
And Valverde was asked about doing a deal for the France World Cup winner ahead of Barca’s match with AC Milan in Santa Clara in the International Champions Cup.
“Pogba is a great player who is on another team,” he said.
“We are respectful with players who are in other clubs.
“I will not enter to evaluate in lucubrations. We respect the player and the club he is in.”
And the Barca boss opened the door to more summer signings having already snapped up Clement Lenglet, Arthur, Malcom and Arturo Vidal.
“I am the coach, I do not have the key to close and open doors,” he said.
“We are Barca and we are open to improve our team. We have to be prepared for everything.
“All teams are open until the last day. We are making progress in the incorporations and it would be absurd to say that the market is closed.
He operates primarily as a central midfielder, but can also be deployed as an attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder, and deep-lying playmaker.
Born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Pogba showed much promise as a youngster, flourishing as a member of local youth teams. He eventually joined the youth team of Ligue 1 side Le Havre, before a protracted transfer brought him to Manchester United in 2009.
After beginning his senior career with Manchester United two years later, limited appearances persuaded him to depart to join Italian side Juventus on a free transfer in 2012, where he helped the club to four consecutive Serie A titles, as well as two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.
During his time in Italy, Pogba further established himself as one of the most promising young players in the world, and received the Golden Boy award in 2013, followed by the Bravo Award in 2014. In 2016, Pogba was named to the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year, as well as the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI, after helping Juventus to the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final, their first in 12 years.
Pogba’s performances at Juventus allowed him to return to Manchester United in 2016 for a then-world record transfer fee of €105 million (£89.3 million). The fee paid for him remains the highest paid by an English club.In his first season back, he won the League Cup and the Europa League.
Internationally, he captained France to victory at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and took home the award for the Best Player for his performances during the tournament. He made his debut for the senior team a year later, and featured prominently at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he was awarded the Best Young Player Award for his performances. He later represented his nation at UEFA Euro 2016 on home soil, where he finished as a runner-up, before winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup after scoring in the final.