Xavi’s stay bolsters chances of Man City star’s arrival at Barcelona | OneFootball

Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

FC Barcelona and the Manchester City playmaker, Bernardo Silva, have been reportedly trying to unite with each other for the last two years, but various circumstances, particularly the economic difficulties of the Catalan club, have kept them from achieving this union.

However, both parties are still continuing their efforts, and reports coming from the media indicate that Barcelona will once again try to get the Portuguese this summer. However, the Catalans will have to find a way to get him for less than his release clause of €58 million, which is not excessive by today’s standards, but is still a sum that Barcelona will find hard to afford.

Still, the Portuguese playmaker continues to wait for his chance to play for the Catalans. Last summer, he wanted to join the Catalans after having won the Champions League with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but ultimately had to renew as Barcelona could not find a way to land him.

Now, according to SPORT, his wish to play for the Blaugranes is even greater than last year, and Xavi’s continuity at the club, significantly boosts his chances of making this wish a reality.

It is Xavi who greatly admires the Portuguese international, and wanted him in his team as he would contribute significantly to his four-man midfield structure. The player and the Barcelona coach had also been in direct contact last summer to assess the possibility of Silva joining the Catalan club.

However, despite Xavi’s admiration and Barcelona’s will to provide him with his desired pieces, getting Silva will not be easy. The Catalans will have to sell some players to get him, and ideally, would have to sell an attacking player to make space for the Portuguese in their squad.

Similarly, Xavi already has a player of a similar profile, Ilkay Gundogan, in his squad, and shelling out €58 million on a player who is not a core need of the team is something that Barcelona cannot afford at the moment. The Catalans also have to get a midfield pivot as one of the priority signings ahead of the next season.

Still, the Blaugranes would be more than happy to get him if a sum lower than €58 million can be negotiated with Manchester City, and it remains to be seen how this operation will turn out this summer, after having failed in the last two years.