La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly ruled out launching the offensive for priority midfield target Bernardo Silva this summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona will not pursue Bernardo Silva in the final days of the summer transfer window. The Catalan club’s stance comes at the same time as Pep Guardiola’s latest comments insisting that the Portuguese midfielder is going nowhere this year.
Bernardo Silva has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe since joining Manchester City from AS Monaco half a decade ago. The 28-year-old has been a pivotal figure for the Premier League champions and played a leading role in their top-flight title triumph last term.
The Portuguese international has started the 2022/23 season with a bang, scoring twice and providing one assist in four Premier League games. But Silva has been keen on joining Barcelona in the ongoing transfer window, with the Blaugrana hot on the heels of the Manchester City playmaker, making him their priority target.
But the Premier League champions have resisted the approaches from Barcelona, with board members categorically ruling out a move for Silva. And while Pep Guardiola initially conceded that Silva could join Barcelona, he, too, changed his tune this past week, insisting that the player would remain at the Etihad beyond the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola confirms Bernardo will not join Barcelona: “Bernardo Silva will stay at Manchester City – I’ve been clear”. ?? #MCFC
“He’s irreplaceable with many things for us. He's so important Bernardo, can play in three, four or five positions”. pic.twitter.com/jgS3JxPopb
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 28, 2022
The Catalan giants have targeted Silva as a potential replacement for Frenkie de Jong, whose future has been extremely uncertain this summer amid Barcelona’s struggles to register new players. But de Jong looks set to remain at FC Barcelona, with recent reports suggesting that Silva is going nowhere this summer.
The 28-year-old had even agreed on personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain when a move to Barcelona started looking bleak. But PSG will not sign the Manchester City playmaker either, with Fabian Ruiz on the verge of arriving from Napoli. And now, Barcelona have ruled out signing Silva this summer.
So after trying various ploys to sign Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, Barcelona will not secure the services of a player who had become their priority target. Thus ends the transfer saga involving Barcelona, Silva and Manchester City, with de Jong also likely remaining at Camp Nou.