Barcelona Transfer News: Paul Pogba Blow Dealt by Giuseppe Marotta, Top Rumours

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is keen to stay at the club, according to director Giuseppe Marotta, in what is a potential blow to Barcelona, who are rumoured to be interested in the player.  

The French international’s continued sparkling form has seen him cement his status as one of the top midfielders in world football this season. Speculation about his long-term future has subsequently been rife, but according to Marotta, Pogba has expressed a desire to remain with the Bianconeri, per Stefan Coerts of Goal.com:

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Pogba is a Juventus player and still has an ongoing contract with us. Plus, he has also told us about his intention to stay with us. All the conditions are there for him to continue with Juventus for the upcoming years.

The Juventus jersey is something you honour right until the end. It is not a foregone conclusion yet that he will stay at Juventus, because nothing is ever guaranteed in football, but it is highly likely that he will stay put.

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According to Coerts, aside from the Blaugrana, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are also said to be interested in the former Manchester United man.

Here is a look at some of the standout moments from a fascinating season for Pogba, as the Italian champions go in search of a fifth successive title:

The most impressive part of the 23-year-old’s efforts this term is how he has handled the responsibility thrust upon him by manager Massimiliano Allegri. After the sales of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo, Pogba has had to step up as the talisman for the team, and following some initial struggles, he’s done exactly that.

In the recent Turin derby, he scored this superb free-kick, helping Juve preserve their lead atop the Serie A standings, per BT Sport’s James Horncastle:

He may not be a quintessential Barcelona midfielder, but Pogba would certainly aid in making what is already a formidable outfit even better.

The Blaugrana are a little more direct under manager Luis Enrique, too, with counter-attacks common at the Camp Nou as they seek to isolate defenders against Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. That’s a style that would suit Pogba, who can be devastating when looping through the middle of the field with space to run into.

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As this statistic from Squawka Football illustrates, he’d definitely add a different kind of attacking dimension to the team’s play as well:

Still, you certainly wouldn’t blame Pogba for staying in Turin. He’s growing as a player under Allegri and, at the moment, is at the crux of the XI; that’s certainly not something that would be guaranteed at Barca. Additionally, Juventus have proven in the last two seasons they’re a team ready to go toe-to-toe with the best sides in European football.

Javier Mascherano Linked with Manchester City

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According to Italian outlet Calciomercato (h/t Mark Brus of Metro), Manchester City could pursue Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano in an attempt to solve their defensive problems. 

There are question marks over Eliaquim Mangala, Martin Demichelis and Nicolas Otamendi at the Etihad Stadium, while their standout performer at the back, Vincent Kompany, is regularly injured. 

“The Argentine is reportedly unhappy with life at the Nou Camp due to a lack of support over his recent tax evasion case,” according to Brus. “… Incoming City boss Pep Guardiola knows the 31-year-old well after initially signing him during his time as Barcelona manager.”

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As the Daily Mirror’s Ed Malyon noted during Barca’s clash with Villarreal at the weekend, the Argentina man is still making crucial interventions for the European champions:

Indeed, he and Gerard Pique still form the team’s best centre-back partnership, making it seem unlikely they would consider any sale. After all, Mascherano is a perfect foil for Pique, with his dynamism, tenacity in the tackle and communication skills all hugely enriching traits when in the side.

While the defender is approaching the twilight of his career, he’d be a coup for City and a potential solution to the aforementioned issues. But unless Barcelona can draft in a replacement during the summer window, it’d be a big surprise to see the former Liverpool man move anywhere in the immediate future.