Juventus determined to keep Pogba despite Barcelona interest

Juventus wants Paul Pogba to remain at the club despite reported interest from Barcelona and a number of Premier League sides.

Paul Pogba Juventus

It has been widely reported that Paul Pogba will join Barcelona next year on a $115 million transfer fee (Getty) Source: Getty Images

Juve's general director Giuseppe Marotta has shrugged off the significance of a meeting with Barcelona about the 22-year-old, who has reportedly been a target for Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

The France midfielder is under contract at the Serie A club until June 2019.

He helped Juventus win a domestic double - the Scudetto and Coppa Italia - and also reach the Champions League final in the 2014-2015 campaign.

Juve executives, including Marotta, met with their Barcelona counterparts in Italy this week to reportedly discuss Pogba's future move to the Catalan giant.

It has been widely reported that Pogba will join Barcelona next year on a $115 million transfer fee.

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.

"The meeting with Barcelona's executives was only institutional," Marotta said. "Pogba is an important element for us and we don't want to do without him."

Meanwhile, Juve has signed Brazilian goalkeeper Neto to serve as understudy and potential long-term successor to Gianluigi Buffon.

Neto, 25, has signed a four-year deal after spending four-and-a-half seasons with Fiorentina, where he has been first choice for the past two years and made 101 appearances.

"Norberto Murara Neto has officially completed his move to Juventus, penning a four-year contract that keeps him with the club until 30 June 2019," Juve wrote on its website.

Neto has also been in the international frame for Brazil, and was part of the squad for the 2015 Copa America finals after Diego Alves's withdrawal.

His arrival comes as Buffon's previous understudy, Marco Storari, departs for Cagliari.


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2 min read
Published 4 July 2015 10:02am
Updated 4 July 2015 10:31am
Source: PA Sport

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