Bernardo Silva has received assurances from Barcelona that he is their top transfer target for 2023 and that they will move quickly to close a deal.
Late in the summer transfer window, the Spanish powerhouses made a move for Silva and even reached a personal contract agreement with the 28-year-old.
Just months after Silva agreed to an extension of his contract at the Etihad, it was revealed at the time that City were holding firm on Silva and had no intention of letting him leave.
Silva was eager to be a part of the new Barca initiative under Joan Laporta and Xavi, which has already generated buzz this summer with a number of notable new additions, including Robert Lewandowski.
Pep Guardiola is now looking to the future with Silva in his squad. Despite a significant effort from Barcelona, City were unyielding in their stance, and sources close to the Premier League giants have confirmed that they were less than impressed with the situation.
However, Barcelona is still very interested in signing Silva, and they intend to step up their pursuit of the Portugal international next summer. In addition, sources familiar with the negotiations have said that a January bid cannot be ruled out.
Silva has long been a target for Barcelona, and manager Xavi recently admitted that he “loves” the midfielder.
“Who doesn’t like Bernardo Silva? He’s an important player for Pep and City. But yes, I love him as a player,” Xavi said.
“He understands everything and has an amazing ability to make decisions. He’s a very important player for Pep and he makes a difference on the pitch.”
