Barcelona Transfer News: Paul Pogba Rumours Discussed, Martin Montoya Exit Close
Former Barcelona President Joan Laporta has admitted that he’s been very impressed with Juventus sensation Paul Pogba and has boasted about the relationship he has with the player’s agent.
When speaking with radio show Al Primer Toque (h/t Dermot Corrigan of ESPNFC.com), the 52-year-old revealed that he has excellent links with Pogba's representative, Mino Raiola, because of past transfer dealings.
He also claimed that Eric Abidal—his choice for sporting director if he is re-elected, according to Sport's Sergio Vera—is good friends with Pogba:
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"The coaches say he [Pogba] is physically powerful and a nice guy.
You must respect that he is at Juventus. I have a good relationship with Raiola since the transfers of Maxwell and [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic. We must be attentive.
Abidal is French and gets on very well with him [Pogba]. Barca is in a moment where everyone wants to come to the Camp Nou.
I have not spoken with him, but Abidal has done so with various players who could be interested. Pogba has exceptional quality. If I have a commitment with a player, without doubt I will make it public.
"
Laporta is attempting to earn a third term in the top job at the Nou Camp, with current president Josep Maria Bartomeu on the way out. These hints will do plenty to endear him to the Blaugrana faithful, as Pogba is rated as one of the top midfield players in world football at the moment.
As noted by Corrigan’s piece, the 22-year-old has also been linked with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Reports are also suggesting that the player could stay with Juventus for one more season before heading to the Camp Nou for the 2015-16 campaign.
Pogba has an array of talents, and long-range shooting is definitely one:
In many respects, he’s a player who’s emblematic of Luis Enrique’s Barcelona. Granted, the club’s philosophy may be about meticulous buildup and short, sharp passing, but last season the Blaugrana were imperfect, took more risks on the ball and were refreshingly direct.
They were still brilliant to watch, though.
That’s Pogba’s game in a nutshell, and while he may not be a direct replacement for Xavi Hernandez, if Barca are to continue playing in this style, then the Frenchman could add another exhilarating dimension to Enrique’s team.
But as is evident by the names linked to the player, the Catalonians will surely face a major battle to land him.
Martin Montoya Edging Closer to Internazionale
According to Fabrizio Romano of Goal.com, La Masia graduate Martin Montoya will leave the club this summer to sign for Serie A giants Internazionale on a two-year loan deal.
The piece claims that Inter will pay €1.5 million as a loan fee and will then have a “non-compulsory” option in the deal to sign the Spaniard. Romano writes that Montoya will pick up a salary of €1.5 million at the San Siro, where he will hope to rekindle his career after a frustrating time at the Camp Nou.
Montoya was expected by many to come through and eventually take the place of Dani Alves in this Barcelona side.
But with the veteran Brazilian penning a new deal and Aleix Vidal to join from Sevilla in January, it’s clear first-team opportunities will be scarce for the Spaniard.
It’ll be galling for Montoya to leave the Nou Camp given the manner in which he’s been schooled by the club’s academy. But another season rotting in the reserves would have only hampered his career, which has really shut down in recent months.
Inter are a side that have made positive strides this summer, making some intelligent, ambitious signings.
Despite their recent troubles, the Nerazzurri are a massive side, and if Montoya can make an impression at the San Siro in the iconic blue and black, his previously stellar reputation could quickly be reestablished.
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