Transfer Centre

Joan Laporta: 'Eric Abidal key to Paul Pogba talks'

By Callum Mulvihill, Reporter | 30 June 2015

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta believes that Eric Abidal could play a key role in their bid to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta has claimed that Eric Abidal could play a key role in securing a deal for Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.

Pogba has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Juventus in recent months due to his fine form, and Barcelona, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are all believed to be interested in the 22-year-old.

However, Laporta believes that his relationship with Pogba's agent Mino Raiola is important and he expects Abidal, who he intends to name as his technical secretary, to be crucial in the talks.

"We feel that the key to a potential signing of Pogba is Mino Raiola, with whom we get on with very well, both Abidal and myself," Laporta, who is looking to beat Josep Maria Bartomeu in next month's election, told reporters.

"We carried out negotiations with him for the deals involving Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"Abidal also knows Pogba on a personal level and if this is something that gives the supporters confidence in our project, then, we'll talk to Juve, as he would be a positive addition."

Reports at the weekend suggested that Man City had opened talks with Juventus about a move for Pogba.