Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are having doubts about signing Manchester City midfield mainstay Bernardo Silva this summer.
Bernardo Silva’s future has been a massive talking point for months. With his contract running out at the end of the season, he looks set to end his nine-year-long stint at Manchester City. Since the Portuguese international will be available for free, quite a few top clubs are after him, and Barcelona are one of the clubs that are interested in his services.
However, according to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, the reigning La Liga champions are having second thoughts about going ahead with the move. Barcelona’s interest in Silva is not new and many are surprised that they haven’t stepped up their pursuit yet, but it seems they do have a reason for that.
Bernardo Silva made a name for himself at AS Monaco before joining City in the summer of 2017 in a deal worth £43 million. The experienced playmaker has only gone from strength to strength since, and he has been one of their mainstays over the years.
While he prefers playing as a number ten, Pep Guardiola has used him in a variety of positions across the pitch. He has often been deployed in a deeper role as well as a winger. The 31-year-old playmaker has played a massive role in all the success they have had over the years.
While he still has quite a few years left in him, Bernardo Silva looks set to run his deal down and leave as a free agent this summer. The Portuguese international is gearing up for a new challenge in the final phase of his career, and there is no shortage of interest in him.
Barcelona no longer need Bernardo Silva
Barcelona are keen on signing Bernardo Silva, and the Blaugrana have been his preferred option for years. However, it seems he won’t be able to fulfil his desire, as the club are having doubts about going ahead with the transfer.
Finances involved have been a big reason why Barcelona have not signed him in the previous windows. While he is willing to lower his demands and is available for free, the Catalan giants are having second thoughts because of the current state of their squad.
The sporting management believes they already have quite a few options in this position. While the 31-year-old could be a great fit in the number ten role, Barcelona already have Fermin Lopez and Gavi, even Pedri and Raphinha can feature in that role when needed.
As a result, Barcelona want to prioritise other positions. They will look to strengthen their defence and attack, which might leave little room for them to go ahead with the Silva transfer. Barcelona’s stance is a massive boost for other interested clubs.