COMMENT: Barcelona, Neymar and Zizou. For Paul Pogba there's still hope. The Manchester United man can still land that dream move to Real Madrid.
For the moment, it's appearing more and more unlikely. Particularly after eldest brother Mathias gave us all a fresh update. A week ago, the CD Manchego striker was bullish about his kid brother joining him in Madrid this season. But today? Not so much. Now it's about the clubs "needing to talk". Indeed, now it's about Paul being "professional" and recognising his "present" is United.
"Paul is fine, as usual," said Mathias on Monday, just days after he was confirmed a regular guest with the local headline-making show El Chiringuito. "No one expects him to say anything bad about Manchester United. He is a professional and his present is there.
"Madrid and Manchester United have to talk."
The surrogate couldn't say it himself, though he came pretty close. Pogba has held up his end of the bargain - and at the cost of his relationship with a section of the United support. Away in Japan at a sponsors' event. After the thumping win over Chelsea. Pogba spoke openly. He let it be known he saw his immediate future beyond Old Trafford. There's been no transfer demand. But no United fan can still be under the delusion if given the chance to turn down Real Madrid, that he would.
But at Real's end, negotiations have proved difficult. Despite his own reluctance, Florentino Perez has sought to find common ground with United. The Real president determined to fulfill a promise made to Zidane during those marathon phone calls to convince him to return last season. But even after talking down United's valuation from €200m to €160m, the price is still regarded as too steep - for now.
And that qualifier exists thanks to Zidane. No-one should doubt the Real coach's insistence that Pogba be signed before the window shuts on Monday night. Even with a "lame" midfield, as Pedja Mijatovic, the former Real striker and sporting director put it, Zidane has turned down offers to strengthen it. If he gave the green light, both Christian Eriksen, of Tottenham, and Ajax's Donny van de Beek would be in Madrid within the hour for a medical. Florentino, or more accurately his No2, Jose Angel Sanchez, have deals with both players' clubs and their minders. It all just needs a nod from Zizou.
But the Frenchman has made it clear to his president: it must be Pogba. And for his part, despite the efforts of his agent Mino Raiola to take him back to Juventus, the feeling is the same. As Mathias says "Madrid and Manchester United have to talk".
The positive for Pogba is that when it comes to Real Madrid, particularly Florentino's Real Madrid, anything is possible. He does like the dramatic, does Perez. And while the story of the fax, David de Gea and Fabio Coentrao's tears has gone down in deadline day infamy, the Real supremo has enjoyed some of his greatest triumphs in the final minutes of the summer market.
Fourteen years ago, Florentino made a young Sevilla centre-half the richest defensive transfer in history. Sergio Ramos making the move to Madrid with just minutes left on the clock. Three years earlier he did the same, only this one shook the world: Ronaldo from Inter Milan. The birth of the Galacticos. And all again achieved on deadline day.
So Florentino has previous - and plenty of it. Something Pogba can hang onto as the days tick down. But even more significant is that Real's president has an ego.
As much as Zidane is an ally in all this, Pogba can also be encouraged knowing Barcelona still have a presence in Paris today. Haggling continues with PSG over a price for Neymar. Directors Oscar Grau, Javier Bordas and Eric Abidal may have returned, but they left Andre Cury in France to maintain contact with the player and PSG's sports director, Leonardo.
The good money is on this one being done. Neymar wants to go. PSG's fans want the same. And there's an acceptance inside the club that a split would now be best for all.
If everything goes to plan and Neymar does make a (though not unanimously) celebrated return, it's difficult seeing Florentino simply sitting on his hands and not responding. The pressure from his coach is one thing. The idea of an already superior Barca strengthening even more, another. But seeing the back and front pages of his favourite Madrid dailies full of Barca and Neymar headlines would be the final straw.
Indeed, this whole cat-and-mouse game with United could all hinge on what Barca manage to do in Paris. Pogba's best chance - even with Zidane nagging in Florentino's ear - is Barca getting the Neymar deal over the line.
Come Monday night, that dream move can still be clinched. But Pogba will be relying on the success of Barcelona to make it happen.
