As per a report from Spain outlet Marca this morning, La Liga giants Barcelona did not lodge an offer for Manchester United star Paul Pogba this summer.
Return
In one of the most highly-publicised transfers of all time, French midfield maestro Pogba re-joined United in the summer of 2016, after making the move to Juventus as a free agent in 2012. Pogba’s 105 million Euro fee was the highest of all-time upon the deal’s completion, with many having immediately questioned the decision of the Red Devils to splash out such a hefty sum on the Frenchman’s signature.
After a hit-and-miss debut season back in Manchester, Pogba started out the 2017/18 campaign in scintillating fashion, finally looking as though he was set to flourish into the player that had been on show at Juventus for several seasons running.
However, a thigh injury picked up in September saw the 25-year-old ruled out for two months, with Pogba having since failed to string together a consistent run of dominant performances for Manchester United.
Blame game
Much of the blame for Pogba’s struggles has been placed on the shoulders of Red Devils’ manager Jose Mourinho, with a public touchline fall-out between the pair during United’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Tottenham in January having seen the midfielder struggle for game-time for long stretches over the months that followed.
Relationship
As a result of his struggles on the pitch and difficult relationship with Mourinho off of it, Pogba has been heavily linked with a summer departure from Old Trafford, with Real Madrid, PSG and former club Juventus the sides most persistently touted as potential destinations for the Frenchman.
Rumoured bid
However, the last couple of weeks have seen a new suitor thrown into the mix by the media, in the form of La Liga champions Barcelona.
The Blaugrana have parted ways with both Andres Iniesta and Paulinho this summer, with Arthur and Arturo Vidal having arrived.
But, if Spanish reports are to be believed, then the Catalan powerhouse are not yet finished in terms of additions in the middle of the park, with multiple outlets having reported over the last fortnight that Barca are extremely keen on the signature of Paul Pogba.
In fact, claims of interest on the part of the Spanish giants eventually went so far as to suggest that Barca tabled an official offer for the Frenchman earlier this week, with the reliable Gianluca Di Marzio and more having claimed that a (dismal) bid of 50 million Euro plus both Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina had been submitted to United.
Denials
But, as per the aforementioned report from Marca this morning, it is now being claimed that the Blaugrana in fact never made such an offer, with the Spanish outlet citing Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola as having denied the reports.
Marca add that there was never any chance of the midfielder actually departing Old Trafford this summer, especially so late in the transfer window, while Barca ‘do not have the economic capacity’ to finance such a deal at this moment in time.
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