Bernardo Silva wants Barcelona, and the feeling could be mutual, according to the latest rumors. Following nearly a decade of elite service under Pep Guardiola, the Portuguese playmaker has reportedly told Manchester City leadership that he plans to walk away at the end of the season.
Now 31, and with his contract winding down, Silva is prioritizing a change and a professional dream he has held for years.
He recently admitted that Manchester is not exactly his ideal city when it it comes to the culture.
He explained that the Portuguese and English ways of life are quite different, and pointed specifically to the weather, the food, and the general pace of living.
He noted that “if Manchester were located further south in Europe, I would stay until I was kicked out” because he loves the club, his teammates, and the fans. However, the other side of his life is different, and he confessed that “at some moments you don’t feel as happy as you’d like.”
That pull toward the Mediterranean could’ve put Barcelona at the top of his list. According to A Bola, Silva is ready to do everything in his power to wear the claret and blue shirt next season. His agent, Jorge Mendes, is said to be trying to figure out the logistics. Let’s not forget his close ties with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco. Those could play a role, too.
While Silva is a long-term target for the board, MARCA reports that the sporting department doesn’t see his signing as a total necessity right now. Hansi Flick’s squad is already packed with the kind of attacking midfielders Silva mirrors. And the club is still stuck in that familiar puzzle of balancing exits before they can register new stars.
The midfielder has plenty of other options if the Catalan door stays shut. Juventus has reportedly already come calling with a three-year proposal worth between 7 and 8 million euros annually.
There is also interest from further away, with Saudi Arabian clubs, Turkish clubs, and perhaps MLS clubs (Inter Miami?) ready to offer contracts for what would likely be the final big deal of his career.
