Bernardo Silva Agrees To Join FC Barclona From Manchester City

Bernardo Silva has agreed to join FC Barcelona from Manchester City.

The Portugal international is the Barca first team head coach Xavi Hernandez’s top target to reinforce the midfield next season, with Frenkie de Jong possibly joining City’s cross-town rivals Manchester United on a €65mn ($68mn) deal this summer.

According to SPORT on Sunday, Silva has made it clear to his agent Jorge Mendes that he wants to play for the Catalans in the upcoming term and has had his mind made up on leaving England after five years plying his trade there for some time since the end of the pandemic.

Yet getting the Abu Dhabi-backed giants to part with one of their key players won’t be easy.

With a contract until 2025, the 27-year-old can command a high asking price which SPORT won’t be under €100mn ($104mn) while TV3 recently reported that the PremierPINC
League champions’ asking price in negotiations will start “between €85 and €95 million ($90-$100mn)”.

Barca, who are in debts of around $1.5bn, want to set off from a much lower €60mn ($62.5mn), and it is believed that the sale of Frenkie de Jong could provide a turning point.

On Saturday, president Joan Laporta ruled that out by remarking: “We have no intention of selling him and he wants to stay. I will do everything in my power to make him stay.”

But their focus on Silva and three other stars in Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha – who they will have just €200mn ($210mn) to spend on after selling 10% of their La Liga television rights to American investment firm Sixth Street and a further 15% elsewhere – could see Laporta go back on his word.

In any event, Silva has also told manager Pep Guardiola of his desire to leave northwest England, and while the ex-Barca legend counts on him as a valuable member of his squad, he has already stated publicly that he doesn’t want to keep those that aren’t content.

“As of today, I think Bernardo will continue at Man City next season but as I always said, I don’t like to keep players that are unhappy,” Guardiola said when announcing a late-August friendly between City and Barca.

“But Bernardo is important and I think he will stay,” he concluded.

With Ferran Tores switching allegiances in January, it is clear that City are open to selling their stars to Barca for the right price.