Bernardo Silva: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City midfielder likes Barcelona a lot amid transfer speculation
“We only have seven or eight days (in the window) before we have to resort to the transfer market. I’d like him to remain “Pep Guardiola admitted following Man City’s friendly with Barcelona on Wednesday that Bernardo Silva ‘likes Barcelona a lot.’
Pep Guardiola says he wants to keep Manchester City star Bernardo Silva but admits the player ‘likes Barcelona a lot’ amid transfer rumours connecting the Portuguese to the Catalan club.
Silva played 65 minutes of a friendly between City and Barcelona on Wednesday night at the Camp Nou, and Guardiola commented about the midfielder’s future afterwards.
Guardiola reiterated that he wanted to keep the 28-year-old, who has won four Premier League championships with City, and that no offer had been made to him by Barcelona, despite rumours of the Spanish club’s interest in him in the previous two summers.
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He did, however, acknowledge Bernardo’s fondness for Guardiola’s previous club.
“I’m not the one to urge Barcelona to forget about (signing) Bernardo,” Guardiola said after the friendly game ended 3-3.
“We want him to remain, but I don’t want anyone who is unhappy.” The first step would be for the teams to reach an agreement, although no offer has been made for him in the previous two years.
“I don’t want him to leave because he’s a fantastic player and a wonderful person… but there are just seven or eight days left in the window and we’d have to look elsewhere.” I’d like him to remain. Bernardo, on the other hand, adores Barcelona.”
Barcelona manager Xavi, who was in the press conference with Guardiola, said any move would “depend on City.”
The Camp Nou was packed with 91,062 fans for the midweek match, which was organised to raise funds for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) research at the Luzón Foundation in honour of former Barcelona goalkeeper and coach Juan Carlos Unzue, who was diagnosed with the incurable degenerative neurological condition in 2020.
In the encounter, Julian Alvarez opened the scoring before goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong – both of whom have Premier League teams interested in them – placed Barcelona ahead.
City youngster Cole Palmer equalised, and after Barcelona’s Memphis Depay – who has been linked with a return to Manchester United – netted a third, Mahrez equalised in injury time.
“I’d want to thank Barcelona and Manchester City for their dedication and sensitivity to our cause,” Unzue remarked. “I’d also want to thank everyone who purchased a ticket and everyone who contributed to the row zero campaign. I’d like you to know that everyone on the ALS team, including those here on the pitch with me, wants to keep living and enjoying life.”
