13 September 2023 , 11:19
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Bernardo Silva’s contract extension at Manchester City contains a clause to allow Barcelona to sign the playmaker.
The Portugal international has been on Barca’s wanted list for well over a year with boss Xavi Hernandez confirming they wanted a deal last summer, which did not come to fruition. Silva had also been a transfer target for Paris Saint-Germain, but his contract extension at City extinguished such hopes.
Silva played a key role in City’s treble-winning campaign last term after Pep Guardiola broke his own stance on allowing players to leave the club. The City boss has not stood in the way of allowing players to leave the Etihad should they wish in the past.
Indeed, when Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko were allowed to join Arsenal in the summer of 2022 as Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea, Guardiola said: "When you don't want to stay and want to leave, you cannot stay." This was also the same approach adopted when Leroy Sane previously departed for Bayern Munich.
Silva penned a contract extension at City last month but it was only for an additional year, taking his contract expiry from the summer of 2025 to through until 2026. He also secured a salary rise, making him one of the best-earning players at the club to reflect his status in the team.
Pep Guardiola went back on his word after blocking last-ditch Barcelona transfer
However, as detailed by Mundo Deportivo, a £50million release clause was inserted into Silva’s deal that did not previously exist. It is said this was specifically in mind for Barca, who they claim the player still wants to join.
Have Your Say! Is Silva one of City’s most important players ? Tell us what you think here.
Guardiola hugely admirers Silva and has rejected suggestions he would leave previously (Getty Images)Barca’s precarious financial situation meant they could not make a move for Silva this summer but the player and the club are prepared to wait for a deal to take place – with an eye on concluding a deal next summer.
Last August, Guardiola said of Silva, in a stark change of tone: "I'm no one to tell Barca to forget about [signing] Bernardo. We want him to stay with us, but I don't want anyone who's not happy. The first thing would be for the clubs to come to an agreement, but there has been no offer for him in these last two years."
He added: "I don't want him to go, he's a superlative player and a great person... and there are only seven or eight days left [in the window] and we would have to turn to the transfer market. I want him to stay. That said, it is true Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot."
In January, Guardiola once again felt compelled to address the future of Silva. It was notable that once again he said it was up to the player, but made it clear of his own view: "He's a key player, so important on and off the pitch. A guy who can talk, always a nice conversation, and always you learn about his humanity, his vision for the club. He's an incredible player against top sides, incredibly reliable in decisive games he's always there. Nothing changed about his future, it belongs to him."