Barcelona’s pursuit of Bernardo Silva appears to be entering its final stages, with the Portuguese international reportedly closer than ever to securing the move he has wanted for years.
The former Manchester City midfielder has long admired Barcelona and, according to reports from A Bola, the Catalan giants remain his ‘dream’ destination after deciding to bring his spell in England to an end.
After several transfer windows in which a move failed to materialise, the circumstances have finally aligned in Barcelona’s favour.
This time, Silva is available on a free transfer, making him one of the most attractive opportunities on the market.
More importantly, the player himself is doing everything possible to make the transfer happen.
What about the finances?
Barcelona are close to landing Bernardo Silva. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Reports claim Silva is prepared to reduce his salary significantly in order to wear the Barcelona shirt.
The proposed agreement would see him accept a wage of around €8 million per season, representing a substantial reduction from the salary he earned at Manchester City.
Furthermore, Barcelona are expected to offer a two-year contract with the option of a further season, a structure that suits both the club and the player as they look to finalise an agreement.
Negotiations progressing towards an agreement
The operation has accelerated in recent weeks following internal discussions at Barcelona.
Despite Silva’s long-standing interest and the efforts of his representative, Jorge Mendes, Barcelona prioritised assessing their options before committing to another midfield signing.
Bernardo Silva of Manchester City
Barcelona are offering a two-year contract to Bernardo Silva. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
That process now appears to be reaching a positive conclusion, as negotiations between the parties are progressing smoothly, with optimism growing that an agreement can be completed.
Some details still need to be resolved, and Barcelona may need departures within the squad to fully complete the operation, but the direction of the talks remains encouraging.
Lastly, there is also interest from Atletico Madrid, where Diego Simeone views Silva as an ideal addition and is pushing to land the Portuguese.
However, Barcelona continue to hold a significant advantage because the Portuguese playmaker’s preference has consistently been to join the Blaugrana.