Pep Guardiola opens the door for Bernardo Silva to join Barcelona

‘I don’t want anyone to be unhappy’: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola opens the door for Bernardo Silva to join Barcelona if clubs can come to an agreement, despite being keen to keep ‘superlative player’

• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will not stop Bernardo Silva from leaving
• The Portugal international has been linked with a move to Barcelona all summer
• The 28-year-old still has three years left remaining on his current City contract
• Silva has played 253 games for City in all competitions, scoring 48 goals

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed he will not stand in Bernardo Silva’s way if he wants to join Barcelona this summer.

The Spanish giants have been heavily linked with the Portuguese playmaker throughout the summer, but financial restrictions have prevented them from submitting an offer to the Premier League champions.

Silva still has three years remaining on his current deal in Manchester, and a move for the four-time Premier League winner would be contingent on Pep Guardiola receiving a suitable fee for the 28-year-old of around £80million.

Pep Guardiola has opened the door for Bernardo Silva to leave Manchester City for Barcelona

Silva featured in the friendly between City and Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday

Silva featured in the friendly between City and Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening which ended in a 3-3 draw.

Boss Guardiola was questioned after the match in his press conference about his midfielder’s future, to which he revealed Silva is potentially keen on a switch to the LaLiga giants. 

‘He is our player. We want him to be with us because he is very important,’ Guardiola told the media.

Guardiola was questioned after City’s 3-3 draw with Barcelona over Silva’s future at the club

‘Having said that, I don’t want anyone to be unhappy. But I don’t want him to leave because he is a superlative player.

‘As a player and as a person, he is one of the best I have ever had. In any competition he is the best player.

‘If an offer arrives there are seven days left and if Bernardo leaves we would have to go to the market and not it’s easy.

‘Having said that, Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.’

Catalan giants manager Xavi was also quizzed on whether or not Barca are still looking to bring the Portugal international to Spain. 

‘Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? Or Haaland or De Bruyne?’ Xavi said.

‘Silva has great decision-making ability, he protects the ball very well, he’s very good. It depends on City. But now there’s no news.’

Barca boss Xavi (pictured, right) was also quizzed about Silva and whether they are interested

Guardiola’s comments post-match are clearly very different to City’s CEO Ferran Soriano, who previously indicated that Silva will not be leaving the club before the transfer window closes.

Soriano told Spanish outlet Que T’hi Jugues: ‘It’s a little late [in the transfer window] to talk about ins and outs. 

‘This story has taken many turns and in the end it has never moved from its starting point.’ 

Silva has played 253 games for City in all competitions, scoring 48 goals and providing 50 assists, becoming a huge fans favourite at the Etihad.

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