Pep Guardiola must make an important choice if Bernardo Silva departs Manchester City. The Portuguese midfielder joined from Monaco last season and played an essential role in their historic Treble-winning campaign last term.
He had been speculated to join Barcelona during previous transfer windows, yet instead signed a new contract at Etihad Stadium until 2026.
Bernardo Silva’s Premier League Reason
After celebrating their three European trophies on display, Manchester City took to the field in their inaugural pre-season friendly against Yokohama F Marinos for their inaugural pre-season matchup of 2019. Following an inauspicious start, City rallied back and won 5-3 thanks to goals scored by Erling Haaland, Rodri and John Stones who was wearing his captain’s armband.
City’s win gave them hope ahead of a challenging new season but Tottenham Hotspur have opened up a five-point advantage at the top of the Premier League following their 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his team can catch them, yet cautioned that they still face an uphill struggle against Tottenham in terms of title contention.
Bernardo Silva has become embroiled in an intense transfer battle this summer between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona who both want to sign him, and Manchester City who insist they won’t allow the Portugal international leave their Etihad Stadium home anytime soon and offer him a new contract shortly.
Silva was an integral member of Manchester City’s Premier League-winning side last season and continues to make an impression this term. In 35 games played across all competitions he has scored 10 goals and provided three assists, helping propel them to lead their table.
Bernardo Silva’s Champions League Reason
Since Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez’s departures, speculation surrounding Bernardo Silva’s future at City has intensified. The midfielder has been an integral member of City’s title-winning side, helping coordinate their intricate passing game while serving as one of Pep Guardiola’s main goal threats – losing him for free would be costly for Pep.
Diario Sport reported that Portuguese forward Thiago Silva is “desperate” to move to Barcelona, but an agreement may prove challenging. While Kylian Mbappe’s departure will give them an increase in transfer fees, they likely wouldn’t pay out any more than double his release clause to sign him away from Real Madrid.
Catalan giants’ financial issues have hindered their ability to make large transfers. If they decide they want Silva gone, however, finding his replacement could prove challenging.
City remains determined to retain their star player and are set to offer him an improved contract that will make him one of the highest-earning players at Etihad Stadium. Such an offer should discourage potential suitors from trying to lure him away from City, giving Portuguese supporters another successful season with Champions League winners City.
Bernardo Silva’s FA Cup Reason
Bernardo Silva rebuffed interest from Barcelona and PSG this summer to help Manchester City win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League championship under Pep Guardiola’s watch. Pep’s side are currently four points ahead of Manchester United and could make history by lifting it for a fifth time this year.
Although he requested to move, it seems unlikely that City will allow the 28-year-old leave this summer as they look set to offer him a contract worth around PS75 million, making him one of the highest-paid players at their club. However, Barca may become interested due to player’s desire for closer proximity with family in Portugal which could cause them to reconsider offering him an offer from City.
City will then turn their focus back onto the FA Cup on Saturday at Wembley where they are favourites to beat Manchester United and dominate over two decades, only Portsmouth, Wigan and Spurs having caused major upsets within this span.
The winner of the FA Cup will qualify for next season’s Champions League regardless of where they finish in the Premier League table – this could prove particularly advantageous to Tottenham, currently eighth in the table and needing European competition to avoid relegation.
Bernardo Silva’s UEFA Super Cup Reason
The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football match held annually between the winners of two major European club competitions – Champions League and Europa League. Held before each new season begins, this match-up has long been considered a critical milestone in Manchester City’s trophy cabinet under Pep Guardiola; 2021 winners Manchester City beat Sevilla 5-4 after an exciting 1-1 tie via penalty shootout win.
However, they have seen two key pillars of their sustained success depart this summer, with Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez both leaving to join Barcelona, forcing them to rethink their midfield with Kevin de Bruyne’s knee injury making a comeback unlikely. Now Bernardo Silva may follow them out the door as La Liga giants Barcelona plan for Ousmane Dembele to move to Paris Saint-Germain.
But City are keen to retain the 28-year-old midfielder and have offered him a contract worth PS300,000. Per week with at least two years remaining on his current deal – they cannot risk seeing Gundogan and Mahrez leave City’s success!
But to convince him to remain, they will have to put in considerable effort; according to reports, his agent is doing all he can to secure him a move back home to Spain.
