Bernardo Silva could sign for FC Barcelona but there are some caveats in the potential deal.
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FC Barcelona likes the idea of signing Bernardo Silva from Manchester City on a free transfer, but there are some sticking points to be ironed out before the deal can go ahead.
Silva has been linked to Barça in the past, but his reported €50 million price tag during times of trying to return to the 1:1 rule under Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits in the summer windows of 2022 and 2023 got in the way.
Three or four years on, the landscape has changed. Bernardo will leave Manchester City on a free transfer after it expires on June 30, and he’s again being matched with a potential move to the Catalans or Atletico Madrid.
Barça fancy the idea of signing Silva according to Mundo Deportivo, and the Portuguese international is eager to sign on the dotted line to don Blaugrana.
As of yet, though, head coach Hansi Flick hasn’t given the transfer his thumbs up. Furthermore, there must also be departures from midfield or further up the pitch to facilitate him, both in terms of squad planning and making the numbers work in terms of FFP.
Where would Bernardo Silva play at FC Barcelona?
In Flick’s current 4-2-3-1 set up, there are two midfielders – usually Gavi and Pedri, or sometimes Frenkie de Jong in the place of the former, and a more advanced CAM that is usually Fermin Lopez or Dani Olmo.
On the right wing, Bernardo would face competition from Lamine Yamal, but his injury has shown that nobody else – such as Roony Bardghji, Marcus Rashford or Ferran Torres – has managed to become a solid back up when the number 10 is injured or needs a rest.
Rashford might also fight for minutes there if his loan from Manchester United is made permanent via triggering a €30 million buy option. Yet at the moment, with Anthony Gordon bought for €80 million on Friday, that looks unlikely.
Of the midfield options which include the mentioned names plus Marc Casado and Marc Bernal, it is Casado that is most likely to leave and make space.
This weekend, it’s been reported that Bernardo Silva’s former employers AS Monaco are tracking the La Masia product.