This might be the summer when Bernardo Silva finally dons the Barca shirt, and according to SPORT it could happen because Manchester City is willing to let him go. If the Blaugrana were after Rodri or Foden, for example, it wouldn’t be possible.
Pep Guardiola and the English club now consider the player fully amortized and are ready to open the door for him, believing they have maximized his best years of football.
They will sell it as a favor to a player who has contributed greatly to the club, but the reality is that they’ve done everything to make someone take the bait: they’ve publicly opened the door for him and lowered his release clause to 58 million euros as he approaches 30 years old.
And they are sure to find a buyer in the market, with Barca being the main customer in recent years. They’ve already signed Ferran Torres for a hefty sum and acquired Gundogan on a free transfer because City was unwilling to commit to a high contract for the German.
Bernardo Silva is an unquestionable, top-quality player, one of the best in the world in his position, but the transaction involves risks that create internal doubts among some of Barca’s executives.
The Portuguese player is operating in the space that Lamine Yamal now dominates on the field, and it seems that he might have to change his role to that of a midfielder at the Blaugrana. If that’s the case, his signing would imply a significant departure.
Because there would be a surplus of stars in midfield and, as happened two summers ago, Frenkie de Jong would be questioned despite Xavi’s support and the Dutchman’s desire to stay.
The second doubt concerns the final price of the transaction: paying nearly 60 million euros for a player approaching 30 years and committing to a high, minimum three-year contract carries its risks.
At Barca, those in charge of sports are convinced about his inclusion. They believe the team would make a quality leap with a star who can perform immediately and are sure that his agent, Jorge Mendes, will do everything possible to facilitate this deal. However, Barça can only manage his arrival with some sales, but it will mean the painful departure of a young player to bring in someone in the final years of their professional career.
Barca would do well to properly assess the cost of all this. Because if the player pushes for it and City opens the door so wide, perhaps the final tally shouldn’t be so high. Bernardo Silva would be an exciting signing, but the club shouldn’t mortgage everything for just one player, no matter how good he is.
Barca is working on this, but should stand firm to ensure this doesn’t end up as another masterstroke by Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain in the market. It seems likely.
