Pogba Is Getting Stronger Closer To Barca, Xavi Just Refuses To Accept It

Paul Pogba (Instagram @ManUtd)

JAKARTA - Barcelona coach, Xavi Hernandez loudly stated that he was reluctant to accept the presence of Paul Pogba, who was a strong candidate to recruit Barcelona in the winter market. This was revealed by Xavi after Pogba's agent Mino Raiola met with Barcelona president, Joan Laporta.

Quoted from Marca on Thursday, December 16, Laporta and Raiola reportedly had a meeting at the agent's house in Turin, Italy, this week. The meeting was deliberately carried out to discuss the transfer of players that will be carried out by Barcelona in the second half of this season.

The same source also said, at the time of the meeting Raiola offered four players to Barcelona. They are Erling Haaland, Paul Pogba, Xavi Simons (PSG) and Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax) where the last three names have contracts that will expire in June 2022.

For Pogba, his contract with Manchester United will indeed expire in June 2022. That moment will open up a great opportunity for the Blaugrana to get the services of the player at a fairly cheap price.

However, Xavi reportedly turned down the opportunity to recruit Pogba. The coach considers Pogba not suitable for the philosophy of the Barcelona game he currently leads.

Meanwhile, to recruit Simons and Mazraoui, the chances are also relatively small. Simons is an 18-year-old midfielder from the Netherlands who also had time to strengthen La Masia. Meanwhile, Mazraoui is a right-back from Morocco who is not Xavi's target.

Furthermore, of the four names of players offered by Raiola, Xavi seems to be more interested in Haaland. Barcelona really needs a striker with a bomber status after losing Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero this season.

Even so, Xavi's interest in Haaland is also not easy because the player still has a contract with Borussia Dortmund until June 2024. If you want to bring Haaland to Barcelona, reportedly the club will have to spend 75 million euros or the equivalent of Rp. 1.2 trillion.

Regardless of whether or not the club's management is willing to realize Xavi's wishes, Barcelona is currently in a slump. In the Spanish League competition, Barca is in eighth position with 24 points.

Sergio Busquets et al are 18 points behind their fierce opponent, Real Madrid. Not only that, Barcelona have also been eliminated from the Champions League after being defeated by Bayern Munich 3-0.