It is no secret that FC Barcelona has always attempted to lure away the big names of Europe. The Catalan giants are among the select few prestigious clubs that most superstars tend to keep an eye out for.
However, attempts to capture such talents are not always successful. Barcelona remain plagued with financial issues, and this particular problem has been quite troublesome.
Manchester City star Bernardo Silva, aged 29, was an object of great desire for La Blaugrana. The Portuguese star himself was also quite attracted by the prospect of wanting to join Barça, but ultimately the negotiations would not amount to much.
Much of those problems came as a result of Barcelona having limited financial allowances to back their pursuit. As a result, despite his own attempts to help the Catalans, Silva remained with City. Moreover, he now has an extended contract with them as well, active until 2026.
In a recent post-match interview following the Manchester Derby, however, Pep Guardiola himself has now confirmed these summer rumors involving Silva. The former Barcelona manager, as highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, confirmed that he was “afraid” of losing Silva in the summer:
“We were afraid of losing Bernardo Silva last summer. He is an irreplaceable football player.”
This interview now confirms the reports that were linking Barcelona and Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder has been a great target for Barça president Joan Laporta and even the coaching staff. They have tried on multiple different occasions to find a solution to bring him over to Catalonia.
Alas, Silva remains in Manchester and in England. Having been incredibly successful under Pep Guardiola, it does not seem like he has exactly missed out on much in terms of success. However, in terms of prestige and history, there are few clubs that produce the same allure as FC Barcelona.
The Xavi-led side would have wanted Silva to don the Barcelona colors and have the former City duo – along with Gundogan – to play for them. However, signing such a player comes with a price – a lucrative price, something Barcelona could not afford due to them being plagued financially.
