It seems Barcelona will stop at nothing this summer to complete transfer after transfer. The Catalan club is one short of half-a-dozen signings this summer after welcoming five new faces. Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde have arrived till now, and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva could now join up.
Barcelona manager Xavi has specifically demanded the signing of the Portuguese playmaker to boost the club’s creative output. A player who has plied his trade under former Barca manager Pep Guardiola for five straight years, Xavi feels Bernardo will perfectly fit in his system.
Barcelona’s new earnings close to what City wants for Bernardo Silva
The Catalans have generated revenue through selling a big chunk of assets, which included their future TV rights. The signings of Robert Lewandowski [£42m], Raphinha [£50m] and Jules Kounde [£46m] were all accomplished with the help of that money. They now eye Silva as their next ‘statement signing’ who is also considered as Xavi’s dream signing.
Barcelona have now sold 25 per cent of their Barca studios to Socios.com, a crytpocurrency firm which has earned them a paycheque of £85million. However, the Spanish giants will first use the money to register their five new signings. While it was expected Frenkie de Jong’s departure to Manchester United for around £70million would do it for Barca, the midfielder has shown no interest in leaving.
Nonetheless, the club has made up for the lost ground with this studios sale which has got them an amount close to what City want for Bernardo Silva. The English champions, first reluctant at letting Silva go have now reportedly agreed to sell him for around £80 million. Rumour has it that Pep Guardiola has promised Silva he will let him join the Catalans if they table an appropriate bid.
And now the Catalans do have the money to match City’s asking price for the 27-year-old. Barcelona president on being asked about the former Monaco player replied, “First we have to register the players we have so far signed. And then we will see what can be done if the coach asks for more players.
“It’s a long summer. The market doesn’t finish until August 31. We have to register the new signings and hopefully we can do that before the season starts. Then we will see what happens. It could be that there is another signing.”
Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva too is keen on moving to La Liga with the Catalan giants. However, he has pledged full professionalism to City as well that he would leave only if a suitable bid arrives. Silva has a long-term contract with Guardiola’s side which runs through the summer of 2025. Regardless of what happens with his future, Silva will be gearing up to grace the field for City’s Premier League opener against West Ham this weekend.