According to a report from ESPN, Bernardo Silva, the attacking midfielder for Manchester City, maintains a strong desire to join Barcelona. Although the 29-year-old recently extended his contract with Manchester City during the summer, he included a clause explicitly allowing Barcelona to activate it.
Silva is enthusiastic about the prospect of moving to La Liga champions, with the release clause set at €50 million— a figure lower than the amount the Sky Blues had initially demanded when the transfer window was open.
Silva’s Impressive Performance At The Etihad Stadium Last Season
Silva enjoyed yet another highly successful campaign at the Etihad Stadium recently, delivering a series of standout displays in the opponent’s territory. The talented Portuguese player found the back of the net seven times and provided eight assists in his 55 appearances for Man City last season across all competitions.
Hailing from Lisbon, Silva showcased his value as a quality performer by maintaining an average of 1.3 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 0.7 shots, 0.9 key passes, and 0.8 dribbles per 90 minutes of Premier League action. Moreover, he exhibited precision in ball distribution, boasting an impressive 89.1% pass completion rate in top-flight football (statistics sourced from whoscored).
Will He Make An Exit From Manchester City Next Summer?
Silva excels as a skilled dribbler, capable of making dynamic runs while maintaining possession in the opponent’s half. His exceptional vision enables him to craft enticing scoring opportunities for his teammates in and around the opposing penalty area.
The Portuguese sensation possesses the ability to unleash powerful long-range shots and consistently exhibits a strong work ethic in the final third of the pitch. While his primary role is often as a number ten, he also possesses the versatility to operate as a right-sided winger or function as a box-to-box midfielder when the need arises.
Silva’s potential addition to Barcelona, under the guidance of head coach Xavi, would have injected more energy and dynamism into their attack. Consequently, Manchester City’s reluctance to let him depart represented a significant setback for the Catalan giants during the past summer transfer window.
Now, Xavi has the option to rekindle his interest in Silva, given the presence of a specific release clause in the player’s contract. It appears highly likely that Barcelona will trigger this clause next summer, initiating negotiations with the talented Portuguese international.
