Bernardo Silva ‘asks friends’ about European giants as three-year contract negotiated | OneFootball

Manchester City could face transfer interest from one of Europe’s premier clubs this summer over the services of Bernardo Silva, according to reports.

The veteran Portuguese midfielder has been instrumental to Manchester City’s success since his arrival from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017, winning every major honour available to him and continuing to be integral to Pep Guardiola’s ongoing system.

Despite criticism being thrown in the direction of Bernardo Silva for a perceived slowing down in his game throughout the course of a difficult season, Pep Guardiola has continued to stand by the versatile midfielder.

“He’s a player you just say you’re playing that position, and he adapts. He knows exactly what he has to do. They are players that play in a position? NO. They play football,” Guardiola told reporters recently.

“And when they play football they know exactly in which position they play and what they have to do. It’s not necessary to tell. When they move, it depends on what happens with opponents and your mates and movements in the right moments.

“They adapt to every situation because they’re completely focused. That’s the truth.”

But despite the ongoing belief in his ability from the side of Guardiola, many have speculated whether Bernardo Silva may be subject to an exit from the Etihad Stadium this summer as club officials look to rebuild their first-team playing squad.

And with that belief has come widespread transfer rumours from various quarters of European media, not only linking the Portugal international with a return to his boyhood club Benfica, but perhaps taking on a new challenge even further afield.

According to the information of Turkish outlet Webaslan, Galatasaray president Dursun Özbek has made contacts over a three-year deal with Bernardo Silva, plus the option of a further 12 months, and a transfer fee with Manchester City.

It is explained however that the Portugal international only wants to make a decision on his Etihad Stadium future ‘after receiving all the offers’, but has ‘asked his friends’ who have crossed paths with the Turkish giants about the team, their fans, and the city as a whole.

From the side of Bernardo Silva, the player has spoken very little on his own future in recent weeks, but did appear to indicate his own belief that he can still perform at the very highest level of European football.

“After a bad season it’s always easy to overthink, but I’d say rebuilding sometimes is part of it and it’s happened in the past, and it will have to happen with this next generation as well,” he told a recent interview.

Bernardo continued, “Hopefully the young guys keep performing at the same level we did in the past. For now, let’s just say I still think we have a lot to give, that’s my feeling. Maybe I’m wrong. Next season will tell.”

Next up for Bernardo Silva and his Manchester City teammates is an opportunity to win major silverware, with an outing in a third consecutive FA Cup Final on the horizon as Crystal Palace await at Wembley Stadium.