Barcelona Transfer News: Paul Pogba Urged to Snub Real Madrid for Camp Nou

Legendary Brazilian midfielder Juninho Pernambucano has urged Juventus starlet Paul Pogba to join Barcelona over Real Madrid.

Pogba is the subject of much chatter on the continent and is reported to be interesting Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, among others, reported by Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star. Italian publication Tuttosport (h/t Matt Maltby of the MailOnline) previously reported Barca have had a £58 million bid for the player turned down.

Juninho, who's best remembered for his tremendous spell with French side Lyon, believes Barca would be the right choice for Pogba, per RMC (h/t Sport):

"

If Barca can sign Pogba it would be really good for him. [Andres] Iniesta has dropped his level a bit in recent years. This team, with Pogba, would win things for many years. The 4-3-3 style of the team is ideal for him. At [Real] Madrid, he would probably need more time to adapt. I would choose Barca.

"

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Pogba put in a dominant shift against Los Blancos on Wednesday, playing a key role in Juventus' progression to the Champions League final. The 22-year-old's confidence on the ball is enthralling, while his physical, aggressive style ensures he remains an influential competitor against the best.

Squawka highlighted his performance:

Both Barca and Madrid have deployed 4-3-3 formations this season, but only the former have found a balance that will yield trophies. Luis Enrique upped the combativeness of Barca's play by signing Ivan Rakitic and placing him alongside Sergio Busquets, whose ability to patrol the area around halfway line remains unmatched in football.

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At Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has tried to squash attack-minded players into his midfield trio. While Toni Kroos keeps things ticking over, both Isco and James Rodriguez are tasked with filling duties they haven't specifically been brought up learning. Top teams such as Juventus have exposed this frailty, ending Madrid's hunt for silverware this season.

The likelihood is that Madrid president Florentino Perez will want to make a splash during the summer. He signed Rodriguez last year and Gareth Bale the year before that, and he loves to splurge on an in-form superstar. Pogba's popularity has ramped up massively in recent times, making him a much-admired prospect to many clubs.

B/R UK's Guillem Balague recently discussed Barca's rumoured interest in the Frenchman:

It would certainly be interesting to witness Pogba sat behind Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. The midfielder thrives when the ball moves quickly through midfield, allowing him to support attacks and burst forward with tremendous energy.

Barca let Yaya Toure, their last midfield powerhouse, leave in 2010 when he didn't particularly fit into Pep Guardiola's system. However, such a figure would slot straight into Enrique's team. Barcelona's added fight has made them far more resilient and versatile this season, allowing them to finally acknowledge that not all wins need to be easy on the eye.

While Pogba's flair and natural exuberance would only add to the club's good days, his determination to force results could also improve the side's chances of success on the bad days.