Strengths and Weaknesses of Barcelona Transfer Target Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba could well be the next "Galactico" signing to arrive at Barcelona if rumours are to be believed.

Per Adriana Garcia of ESPN, Barca sporting director Arieda Braida recently travelled to Turin to make an €80 million bid for the ex-Manchester United man.

The mammoth offer was rejected, with Braida telling Italian TV station Mediaset (via Garcia):

"

My dear friend Beppe Marotta of Juventus, whom I have a profound affection for, has officially rejected the proposal that I made for Paul Pogba, but we will not stop here.

I will now return to Barcelona to follow the Blaugrana presidential election [on July 18] and then we will think about other signings.

"

BBC Sport's Saj Chowdhury reports that Joan Laporta, if elected as president after the club elections, will also pursue Pogba as a signing.

So what will the Catalans be getting for their money? Let's take a look at some strengths and weaknesses of one of the world's most sought-after players...

Weakness: Concentration

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Pogba admits himself that he is prone to lapses of concentration at times.

By his own admission, Pogba suffers from a lack of concentration at times during games.

Ben Jefferson of the Daily Express notes the midfielder's words from an interview just before the Champions League final against Barca.

After being brought down a peg or two by manager Massimiliano Allegri, the Frenchman said:

"

Allegri’s words? I take them as advice, I have to be focused for the whole match.

It’s the way I am, it’s not showing off, it’s just the way I play my football, but what the coach said is true.

It’s always been that way with all my coaches. I don’t do it on purpose, but sometimes I have to release a little bit, it’s me, it’s the person.

When I hear that (criticism) it wakes me up a little bit, it makes me open my eyes.

"

If the Catalans need to spend north of €80 million to get their man, the least they will expect is a fully concentrated player at all times.

Weakness: Passing

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Pogba's passing accuracy will need to be improved.

For a player who appears to control his midfield at will, it might come as a surprise to many that his passing accuracy isn't up to scratch.

His figure of 84 percent completion, per Squawka, came just this past season and is his best return for Juve.

Compared to his Bianconeri teammates, his contribution in that regard is average at best. Approximately half of the team are better, and some are worse.

Compare him to Barca's players, however, per Squawka, and it makes for poor reading. That same figure would put him in the bottom six of worst passers in the side.

Clearly, therefore, he must work on this aspect of his game.

Weakness: Tackling

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Pogba loses more tackles than he wins.

Pogba relies on his physicality to author much of his game.

As such, you might expect that when it comes to tackling the opposition, the Frenchman would win far many more duels than he loses.

To find that he has won only 45 of his 96 attempted tackles, via Squawka—a 47 percent success rate—is a shock.

If Barca are signing him to be a midfield powerhouse, he'll need to put his foot in a bit more than he has done recently—and ensure that he comes away with the football.

Upper-body strength is all well and good, but a bit more bravery on the deck might be just what the doctor ordered.

Weakness: Output

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Could Pogba tailor his game a little better?

For a spend that is likely to be somewhere in the region of €90 million, Barcelona will want the finished article.

However another area that needs to be addressed is his output.

Nine goals and six assists from midfield is reasonable, and his ratio of shots on goal has been acceptable.

But is acceptable good enough?

Arguably Ivan Rakitic's eight goals and eight assists is on par with Pogba's 2014/15 output, and he cost a fraction of what the Frenchman is likely to retail for.

If you pay top dollar, you expect the best.

Strength: Engine

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From the first minute to the last, Pogba just keeps on going.

There probably aren't too many midfielders who can keep going in the manner that Pogba can.

With a rangy stride and the effortless way in which he glides across the turf, the Frenchman has an extraordinary engine and just keeps on going.

Much like Ivan Rakitic and the effervescent Dani Alves, Pogba will keep hammering on the door, whether it's the first minute or the 90th minute.

It could be just the sort of thing required if Barca need to get out of a hole in the last knockings of a game. As the opposition begin to tire, there's no better time to have someone still capable of putting on the afterburners and driving at the heart of the defence.

Strength: Power

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Pogba's physicality is rarely matched.

The worst thing opposition midfielders can do is to cede possession and allow Pogba the room to drive forward.

One of the best facets of his game is his ability to dribble with the ball, and indeed, 75 successful take-ons from 100 attempted, per Squawka, was the highest at Juve last season.

B/R's tactical expert Sam Tighe noted of the player that while his versatility allows him to play a number of roles, a "shuttling" type of employment is preferred:

"

Opinion will be divided, but this is the role we believe to be his best: a box-to-box responsibility that allows him to extend those long loping legs and utilise his powerful frame in one-v-one situations.

"

Outmuscling opponents while in possession is his forte, so he has to be dealt with early or likely not at all.

Strength: Mental Strength

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Supremely confident, the Frenchman evidently doesn't suffer with a crisis of confidence.

To make it at the very highest levels, a player has to have a bit more than skill in his locker.

The ability to demonstrate and harness that skill to its fullest is a pre-requisite and is another side of the game that is often overlooked.

Mental toughness in the most difficult of situations is what sets the very best apart from everyone else.

And Paul Pogba possesses it in spades.

Call it confidence, call it swagger, in fact call it whatever you like. 

Thus far, there doesn't appear to be anything that fazes the 22-year-old. And to think that he is only going to get better...

Strength: Versatility

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Pogba is extremely versatile in the Juve midfield.

The cherry on the icing on the cake of Pogba's all-round game is his versatility in the midfield.

As a deep-lying regista, a box-to-box powerhouse or any other variant that has been asked of him to this point, the youngster hasn't generally looked out of place.

In Barcelona's midfield, that kind of skill set would give Luis Enrique so many more options should there be injuries or suspensions.

Invaluable.