Juventus stress Paul Pogba is not for sale, despite Barcelona interest

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta recently claimed that Pogba would play for the Catalan giants next year if he is elected the new club president on Saturday.

Pogba's agent Mino Raiola also backed Laporta's comments by saying there "is a strong possibility that Pogba will play for Barcelona if Laporta is elected".

However, Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta said to the Spanish press: "Whoever is interested in the player needs to talk to Juventus and not with Mino Raiola, who is nonetheless his agent.

"But the player is not for sale."

Pogba, 22, is also a reported target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris St Germain this summer, although he is under contract at the Serie A club until June 2019.

Juve turned down a reported €80million bid from FC Barcelona earlier this month after the European champions sent a delegation, led by the club's international sporting director Ariedo Braida, to Milan for negotiations.

Marotta said: "We have negotiated with Barca in recent months. We have done so in a serious and correct manner as it should be between two teams that have a lot of history and importance in world football.

"The situation is very clear between Barca and Juventus after the meeting we had in Milan.

"Barca made an offer and we replied.

"In any case Barca cannot make any signings and Juve does not want to sell."

Barca cannot field any new players until January 2016 due to a transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaching rules on the transfer of under-age players.

That has not stopped the treble winners from acquiring Spanish defender Aleix Vidal from Sevilla and Turkish midfielder Arda Turan from Atletico Madrid since the end of the last campaign.

The longer the summer goes on the more Paul Pogba boosts Joan Laporta's bid to return as Barcelona's president. The Frenchman is the hottest transfer target in Europe this summer and comments from Pogba's agent saying a move to Barcelona is possible only make Laporte's campaign more attractive to the fans.

Despite being unable to register new signings this summer, Barcelona are still looking to complete transfers with a view to them playing in January, such as with Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan. If a move to Catalonia is what Pogba desires he may be best served staying at Juventus for one more year before making the move.