A report in Tuesday’s edition of Sport claims Barcelona’s pursuit of Paul Pogba last summer was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
Sport explains how the picture of Barca directors Ariedo Braida and Albert Soler, plus their Juventus counterparts, taken in July 2015 to confirm their ‘lock’ on Pogba was merely a ploy by President Josep Maria Bartomeu to earn electoral votes.
La Blaugrana were said to have had an €80m bid rejected at the end of the 2014-15 season for the midfielder, who ultimately returned to Manchester United for a world-record €104m on Tuesday morning.
The saga has also led to questions about Braida’s exact role at the club, the 70-year-old having recently committed himself to the club for the next five years with the title of international football advisor.
