Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho Admits He Cannot Afford Barcelona-Linked 'Eiffel Tower' This Summer

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, known for his sarcastic jibes, has now compared Juventus playmaker Paul Pogba to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, when asked if the Portuguese manager was indeed pursuing the ex-Manchester United player with firm intent this summer.

Pogba, who has a contract with Juventus until June 2019, has attracted interest from a host of clubs this summer, including the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

While he was heavily linked with a move to Barca earlier this month, nothing much happened as days passed.

"Pogba is one of the top players in the world. Pogba goes to any team and improves that team automatically," the Chelsea manager was quoted by the Daily Telegraph.

"I think everybody has an interest in Pogba. But there are things you can do and things you cannot do. I love the Eiffel Tower but I can't have the Eiffel Tower in my garden. I can't even have the Eiffel Tower of Las Vegas."

'Pogba to Chelsea' may not be one of the bigger news this summer transfer window, but 'Pogba to Barcelona' certainly is. It was reported earlier this month that an agreement was in place for the 22-year-old Frenchman to move to Camp Nou.

Barca, reportedly, wanted to sign the player this summer and bring him to the club next year, owing to the transfer embargo.

But later, no such development took place on the 'Pogba to Barcelona' storyline.

Juventus had reportedly turned down a massive £56million bid from Barca for the French international. However, the Catalan giants are expected to go back to Pogba following Josep Maria Bartomeu's re-election as club president, reported the Daily Mail.

Barcelona board member Jordi Mestre also affimred the report when he mentioned that they are ready to go for the player, once a green signal is given by the coaching staff.

"If the coaching team ask for Pogba, we will study it," Mestre told Cadena COPE.

"In principle, the squad for next season is finished. But if Luis Enrique asks for some reinforcement somewhere, the door is open."

Former Barcelona chief Joan Laporta, who was in the running to replace Mestre as president, had claimed Pogba would complete a switch to the Nou Camp next year if he was elected.

Juventus are meanwhile firm on their part not to let their star player go. The club's managing director Giuseppe Marotta has been persisting that the youngster will not be sold this summer - an idea not very well received by legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Yes, I would sell Pogba. It's true I already ended up losing him on a free but now if I were Juve I'd sell," Ferguson was quoted by Daily Star as saying.