Pep Guardiola has told Barcelona to put up or shut up in their bid to sign City star Bernardo Silva.
David Bernabeu of Diario Sport reported overnight that the Spanish champions intended on making a fresh bid for the midfielder. He adds the Catalan giants are willing to pay €65 million plus add-ons for Bernardo Silva’s services.
The City manager Pep Guardiola was asked in his press conference before Sunday’s FA Community Shield about Bernardo’s future.
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He was on the front foot, telling Barcelona to make a bid, saying: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to be here. I want to work with guys who want to stay. But we need a proper offer. If they want him, they’ll get on a plane and speak to our sporting director. For us to buy a player is £10-15m more expensive than other clubs, all the time it’s like that. And the same guys, when they want our players, really important players, first they have to make an offer – and it didn’t happen.”
Guardiola has laid down the state of play for the Spanish giants if they do intend to make a bid for Bernardo Silva. City’s Portuguese midfielder has been linked with a move from the champions for some time.
Manchester City are intent on keeping their star at the club. Reports from Alexis Bernard of Le 10 Sport indicate they’ve seen off PSG’s advances for Bernardo. A new contract has been offered to Silva to keep him at the Etihad as reported by Graeme Bailey of 90min.
Guardiola’s press conference salvo does make it feel that the speculation on Bernardo’s future will end one way or another this summer.
