Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Paul Pogba has talks with Barcelona presidential candidate Benedito

Barcelona presidential candidate Agusti Benedito says he has spoken personally to Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba about a move to the Camp Nou.

Pogba, 22, is one of European football's most exciting talents -- and is reportedly a target of Barca, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Real Madrid have denied an interest, however the club's reserve team coach Zinedine Zidane has been speaking this week of his admiration for his fellow Frenchman.

Barca are unable to field any new players until January 2016 due to their transfer ban, but there was speculation of an €80 million offer having been made by the club's outgoing board in the build-up to their Champions League final win over Juve in early June.

In an interview with Catalan station 8TV, seen in advance by Mundo Deportivo, the declared candidate for July's election at the Catalan club said he had been in touch with both the player and Juve president Andrea Agnelli.

"I made contact with Pogba," Benedito said. "First I spoke with Andrea Agnelli and then personally with the player. We were asked for €12 million net per season, and a transfer fee of €80 million."

Benedito, a long-time critic of the previous Barcelona board, is currently an outsider in the upcoming poll, with outgoing president Josep Maria Bartomeu the most favoured candidate yet declared, and former club secretary Toni Freixa also a declared runner.

The race could yet be shaken up, however, should ex-Barca chief Joan Laporta throw his hat into the race, with a decision on that expected soon.

Benedito was previously an ally of Laporta but fell out with him in 2009 over a controversial deal with an Uzbeki businessman.

The Catalan businessman said he expected his former colleague to run in what would be a four-way race.

"In the end there will be the four pre-candidates," Benedito said. "Bartomeu, Laporta, Benedito and Freixa."

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