Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu rdeclined to discuss links with Manchester United star Paul Pogba, though he did leave the door open to a possible move before the transfer window shuts.
LaLiga champions Barca have emerged as strong suitors for France midfielder Pogba amid uncertainty over the World Cup winner’s future at Old Trafford.
Pogba – who wore the captain’s armband and scored in United’s Premier League season-opening 2-1 victory over Leicester City – has endured a strained relationship with manager Jose Mourinho and the Frenchman raised further doubts over his time in Manchester when he claimed he would be fined if he said what he wanted to following Friday’s clash.
While the Premier League window closed on August 9, Spanish clubs have until August 31 to complete deals.
“We’ll see which players come out. We’re focused on the League, so it’s best to ask [Eric] Abidal, [Ramon] Planes or Pep Segura about players. There’s still time to do business.”
Speculation about Paul Pogba’s future at Manchester United continues to mount amid reports in the British media that the midfielder is afraid he will be punished if he says the wrong thing.
The France World Cup winner, who moved to Old Trafford in 2016 in a $114 million trafer deal, has been linked with another big-money move, to Barcelona, following a series of apparent fallouts with United manager Jose Mourinho.
But the 25-year-old was made captain for his club’s Premier League opener against Leicester City and was praised by Mourinho for his performance, which included the goal that set United on the way to a 2-1 win.
However, a post on Pogba’s Instagram account shortly after the game fuelled continuing speculation that he is still far from settled at Old Trafford.
In comments widely regarded as reflecting continuing problems with his relationship with the United boss, he wrote: “I’ll always give my best for the fans and my team mates, no matter what’s going on.”
He did not directly mention Mourinho, who has been critical of the player he signed from Juventus in 2016.
But in comments attributed to Pogba in Sunday’s British newspapers, he says: “There are things I can say and there are things I cannot say… otherwise I will get fined.”
He adds: “When people trust you, then you’re good in your own head, and it’s going to be easier.
“I always give my best for the fans, for the team mates … and for the people that trust me.”