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Paul Pogba’s potential world record transfer to Manchester United isn’t finalised yet, the Juventus midfielder’s agent said yesterday.
United have reportedly had an £86 million turned down by the Italian champions as they try to lure France international Pogba back to Old Trafford four years after allowing him to leave on a free transfer.
Jose Mourinho’s side are expected to return with an improved bid that approaches Juventus’s £100 million asking price after United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward met Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola to thrash out personal terms this week.
But Raiola took to Twitter yesterday to insist the deal was not concluded yet.
“There’s no deal done regarding Paul Pogba, lots of bla, bla, bla,” Raiola tweeted on his verified account.
Meanwhile, Manchester United officials are in Italy to meet Juventus and try to agree a world-record transfer for Paul Pogba, sources close to the English club have told ESPN FC.
United have spent several weeks working on a deal to re-sign Pogba (23) after Jose Mourinho made the France midfielder his top priority.
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward did not travel with the club on their pre-season trip to China, fuelling talk that he was staying behind to work on the Pogba deal, and sources have told ESPN FC that a delegation from the Premier League side has flown to Italy to try to broker a deal.
Juventus were said to have rejected United’s opening offer earlier this week — reported by The Guardian to be around £87 million (€104.5m) up front with £13m (€15.6m) in add-ons.
United are expected to make an improved offer for Pogba during the discussions, with Mourinho – who was coy when asked about the deal yesterday – keen to have the transfer wrapped up as soon as possible.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, posted on Twitter yesterday to say no deal has yet been done.
Real Madrid were also keen on Pogba but are reported to have pulled out of the race to sign the Frenchman due to the cost of the deal, and coach Zinedine Zidane said earlier this month: “I’m happy with the squad I’ve got and it’s difficult to improve on it. He’s a very good player and every club wants the best players, but right now he’s at Juve and we have a large squad already.”
The deal is set to eclipse Gareth Bale’s world-record move to Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, with the whole deal expected to cost over £100m (€120.1m) taking into the account the player’s personal terms and add-ons.
Juventus have been reluctant to lose Pogba but they are resigned to his departure due to the player’s apparent willingness to make the move back to United after leaving Old Trafford for Juventus on a free transfer in 2012.— ESPNFC.
Online Reporter