Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva has opened up on the rumours linking him with a move to Barcelona this summer.
Barcelona have reportedly been heavily interested in getting Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva on board at Camp Nou this summer. The Blaugrana are reportedly eager to part ways with Frenkie de Jong to make space for Silva’s arrival.
Recent reports claimed that Manchester City had agreed on a €60 million deal with Barcelona for the transfer of the Portuguese playmaker. However, the Premier League champions have since refuted those claims and are demanding a higher fee for Silva.
The 28-year-old, who has been with Manchester City since joining them from AS Monaco in 2017, still has three years left on his current contract with the English giants. However, the Portugal international has refused to rule out a possible exit from Manchester City this summer amid interest from Barcelona, although he stressed that he shares a good relationship with the club.
“I’ve always said that I’m happy here but I have no idea what’s going to happen,” Silva told ESPN.
Bernardo Silva tells ESPN: “I've been open with Man City and they know what I want. If I stay, I'm very happy and I will always respect this club and give all my best. If not, it's football and we'll just see what happens”. ?? #MCFC
“I will always be respectful with Man City”. pic.twitter.com/gWqAHNBGBz
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2022
“We’ll see, honestly. My relationship with the club is very honest. I’ve been open with them and they know what I want. If I stay, I’m very happy and I will always respect this club and give all my best. If not, it’s football and we’ll just see what happens.”
Manchester City have already allowed the likes of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to leave this summer and are eager to hold on to Bernardo Silva. However, they will not force the Portuguese playmaker to stay should he decide to join Barcelona.
“It’s a big club and they don’t want players who are not happy at the club,” Silva added before continuing, “They always say to all of us that if you’re not happy, you can go. Of course, they are in business and they want the right amount of money for letting us go but personally it’s a relationship with the club that is very respectful.”
“They have always been honest with me and I have always been honest with them. As I said, I will always respect my relationship with Man City, with the fans, with the staff, with my teammates so whatever happens, happens and it for sure will happen in a very respectful way.”
It will be interesting to see if Barcelona will succeed in landing their top transfer target this summer. For now, Silva remains coy on his future at Manchester City amid rampant speculation surrounding his future.
