The day that Barcelona (supposedly) signed Paul Pogba
July 1, 2015. Little more than a year ago, Ariedo Braida and Albert Soler were photographed with representatives of Juventus, to announce they had 'reserved' the transfer of Paul Pogba. Barcelona were immersed in an electoral period and the image was very good for Josep Maria Bartomeu's campaign. The idea was that Pogba would stay another year at Juventus and then join Barcelona in 2016-17. And yet, on Sunday, the French central-midfielder became a Manchester United player for 120 million euros. What happened in the last 12 months that stopped Pogba ending up in Blaugrana? Well, simply, Barcelona never wanted to sign him. And the photograph of Braida and Soler was only a strategy to get votes. Once again, the international assessor and the head of professional sports were shown up. Shown up in the literal sense, because this photograph they took with the Juventus executives has become a shameful thing, ridicule in capitals.
To this day, nobody knows what function Braida serves at Barcelona. At the club he has the title of international assessor of football. Braida, 70, has just got a new contract for five years. And in the club they value his 'experience' and his 'knowledge of the market'. All of this would be very good if Braida had signed or contributed to the signing of any footballer. But he has not done that.
Something that his companion in the photograph, Albert Soler, has done. Although perhaps not with the success that you might want at a club like Barcelona. Both took part in one of the more surreal photographs in Barcelona's history. And today they don't even blush at the memory...
