Barcelona’s Head of Professional Sports Albert Soler has revealed that the club were close to securing Paul Pogba from Juventus.

Paul Pogba was the subject of speculation throughout the summer with the French superstar continuously linked heavily with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United. Barcelona were linked in the early stages with the Euro 2016 finalist and were tipped to be favourites for the player before reportedly backing out of the deal.

The player ultimately joined Manchester United from Juventus becoming the world’s most expensive signing and was even revealed to have rejected an offer from Manchester City last summer.

Barcelona’s Head of Professional Sports, Albert Soler revealed in an interview with Spanish publication Sport that Barcelona were indeed interested in the former Juventus man last summer and even had an agreement in place with Juventus that gave the Blaugranes’ priority over other clubs if the Bianconeri intended to sell the player.

Soler was in Turin last summer with Ariedo Braida to hold talks with Juventus and the director revealed that it was centered around the possibility of securing a transfer for Pogba. He even added that Braida helped immensely in the club receiving the priority over other clubs.

“ Last year we agreed with Juve that if they wanted to sell Pogba during that window we would have priority – that was what we had. Braida helped us get that priority,” Soler admitted.

Paul Pogba could have very well ended up playing alongside Messi, Neymar and Suarez, revealed Albert Soler. (Picture Courtesy - AFP/Getty Images)
Paul Pogba could have very well ended up playing alongside Messi, Neymar and Suarez, revealed Albert Soler. (Picture Courtesy – AFP/Getty Images)

Soler, then added that Juventus did not want to sell the player last summer and explained Barcelona’s decision of not being aggressive in their pursuit of the French superstar during the period.

He said,“ Juve did not want to sell and we did not need to try and push it. We were in an electoral period and a signing of that calibre could not be made by a provisional board.”

Soler revealed the club decided not to follow up their interest in Pogba this summer and instead secured the services of Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes, both who cost significantly less and also had experience of playing in Liga BBVA.

It sure would have been intriguing to see how Paul Pogba’s playing style would have gone along with the style of football played at Barcelona, but the Frenchman seems to have settled in quickly at his former home Manchester United as he looks to take the Premier League by storm.

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