Real Madrid have opted to speak out over reports in Italy claiming that they had made contact with in-demand Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and his representatives over a summer transfer to the Spanish giants.
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Italian newspaper La Stampa published a report on Thursday claiming that Real had started negotiations with the Frenchman and his agent, and the player was being enticed by a contract worth €10m-a-season.
The club has felt it necessary, however, to quash the speculation that talks are under way over Pogba becoming the next galactico to be unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu by posting this on their official website.
The statement reads:
‘To the information published in the Italian newspaper La Stampa on an alleged offer from Real Madrid for the player Paul Pogba, the club states: that Real Madrid has not had any contact with either Juventus or the representative of the player, so Information published in this newspaper is absolutely false.’
This is a strange decision from Los Blancos considering transfer gossip from various media outlets across the world is an unavoidable part of the sport.
The 22-year-old has been linked with an array top clubs across Europe since leaving Old Trafford in 2012, including Premier League sides Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and a return to Manchester United has been mooted [Daily Star]. However, latest reports suggest that the Juve star has his eyes set on a switch to Spain – but favours a move to Real’s rivals Barcelona. Though he wants to stay in Turin for another season before making the move to the Camp Nou in 2016 [Daily Mail].