Barça close to pulling out of the bidding for Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva
The Blaugrana club have run up against a wall trying to negotiate with City, with payment and timing being the key difficulty
Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva is a player everyone at Barça likes. The club made some attempts but are now close to withdrawing.
Both the Blaugrana club and the player have pushed for a loan with a mandatory option to buy, but City are standing firm with their demands, a permanent transfer for a sum of more than 70 million euros.
At present, Barça cannot afford this expense unless there is a big sale, something that is not foreseen.
Barça proposed a loan move to Bernardo Silva this weekend and the Portuguese was amenable to that, with his agent Jorge Mendes mediating throughout. The player spoke to Pep Guardiola, but City have made him understand that they cannot facilitate his departure if there is no transfer proposal with immediate payment. Man City would have to sign a top player if Bernardo Silva were to leave and hence are reluctant to loan him out.
The deal is practically called off. Bernardo Silva did his bit, but he enjoys a good relationship with City and will not enter into any conflict with the club that elevated him to the football elite.
Xavi Hernandez is already informed of this situation and also understands that there is no time to lose as the market is running out and decisions must be made.
