Why Paul Pogba Isn't the Right Fit for Barcelona

Paul Pogba is Barcelona's main transfer target of this summer window, news that has come from within the club itself.

Outgoing club president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Telefoot (h/t ESPN):

"

It is true that Pogba is a leading target of ours and obviously we are interested, but I can't say anything more.

We are forbidden to recruit players until January, so I can't talk about it.

"

The statement is fairly unequivocal but is slightly misleading, as Barca can indeed sign Pogba this summer thanks to a loophole in FIFA's transfer ban. The Catalans just can't register him as a player until January.

Juventus may well have something to say about any proposed deal, and should Bartomeu not be voted back in as president, attentions may turn elsewhere in terms of transfer targets.

For now, however, it is clear that the ex-Manchester United starlet is priority No. 1.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Which doesn't really make a lot of sense on a footballing level.

Let's be clear, there is no doubt whatsoever that Pogba is one of the best young players in world football at present. There is little point in pretending otherwise.

But he doesn't fit Barcelona's style in any way, shape or form.

It is yet another transfer that would be more of a muscle-flexing exercise—buying Pogba just because they can to keep him from the clutches of a handful of the other European big boys.

There certainly doesn't seem to have been a lot of thought put into the mooted deal.

Pogba is an aggressive, rampaging midfielder. His lolloping style is reminiscent of former France international Patrick Vieira, and there are certain other similarities to the ex-Arsenal war horse.

Manchester City's Yaya Toure is another who plays in much the same manner as Pogba, and while it was some time ago that Barcelona let him leave, the evolution of the treble winners hasn't come full circle back to that type of midfield dynamo.

Barca are well set in midfield. The addition of Ivan Rakitic was necessary if Luis Enrique wanted to recycle possession quicker and play more direct, but the Croat's style differs markedly from that of Pogba.

Michael Sohn/Associated Press/Associated Press

Furthermore, neither Sergio Busquets nor Andres Iniesta is ready to give up their place in the side just yet.

Barca's fanbase saw Pogba up close for the first time in Berlin during the Champions League final, and it would've been blindingly obvious to them that Pogba oils the wheels in that Juventus side, that their entire style of play is conducive to getting the best out of the 22-year-old.

But Juve's style is as far removed from Barca's as it's possible to be, and Pogba would therefore need to seriously adapt his own game to fit in at Camp Nou—not only to a typical Barcelona style of play but also the particular variant that Luis Enrique is producing presently.

"

Cadena SER | Pogba's agent met with Barcelona officials. Putting pressure on Perez to pay if he want's him. pic.twitter.com/0OfirD9qTO

— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) June 6, 2015"

If Barca are willing to shell out upward of €80 million, then it  should at least be on a player who needs no schooling.

If there is one thing this Barcelona team have, it is complete equilibrium, harmony and balance.

Why even consider upsetting that?