Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has revealed that the Spanish giants were priced out of signing Paul Pogba by Manchester United‘s £90million bid.

The La Liga leaders were determined to recruit Pogba in 2016 and held advanced negotiations with Juventus that were ultimately undone when United offered a then record transfer fee that was accepted.

“In the summer of 2015, Paul Pogba was playing in Turin and we simply told Juve that, if one day they decide to sell the player, we would be interested,” Bartomeu told ESPN FC.

“When they sold the player, they told us what the offer would have to be and we couldn’t afford that amount of money at the time.

“So he went to United, and he’s making them better as a team because he’s one of the stars of the world of football right now.”

Barcelona play at Old Trafford on Wednesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against United knowing that Ousmane Dembele will not be available.

Dembele will travel with the squad on Tuesday but has been ruled out of the clash because of the thigh strain that has sidelined him since mid-March.

Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen is also unavailable because of discomfort in his left leg.