Barcelona president won't rule out Pogba transfer

Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu has fuelled speculation over a future move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

The World Cup winner is rumoured to want a move to the Catalan club but United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is reluctant to sell.

Despite problems in his relationship with current manager Jose Mourinho, United want much more than the £100m that Barcelona are prepared to offer.

According to The Mirror, United want around double that figure, initially offered at the end of the summer transfer window in the form of £50 million plus players Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes, who are now at Everton.

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Speaking to The Times, Bartomeu played own rumours of a move, but refused to rule anything out: “I read these rumours – not just Pogba but a lot of players. Most of the teams don’t want to sell their players. They want to grow.

“When you hear from agents that a certain player is on the market – and I am not saying that about this player, but generally – I will sometimes call the CEO and say ‘Is it true you want to sell this player?’

“Usually they say ‘No way, not for sale’ and that’s the end of it.”

When asked about Lionel Messi, he said both the club and the player were not entertaining any change to his club over the course of his contract, and may even sign a new deal.

Bartomeu said: “He doesn’t want to leave. We always tell him he can be a one-club man. That is his project too.”