Last summer, three of Manchester City’s key pieces to their era of dominance left the club. Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, and Aymeric Laporte all departed the club. The trio all had integral roles to Pep Guardiola’s sides’ recent dominance of English and European football. It is the cycle of football that players come and go from a club, and Manchester City is no exception to this.
This summer may again see another one depart after a trophy laden spell at the club. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano posted via his official X account a reminder that the release clause in Bernardo’s contract becomes active this summer.
❗️🇵🇹 Reminder: Bernardo Silva has £50m release clause into his Man City contract valid starting from this summer. https://t.co/U2j91jr5C6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 4, 2024
READ MORE: Manchester City sees a West Ham star as the ideal replacement for Bernardo Silva.
It has felt inevitable for some time that the day that Bernardo Silva leaves Manchester City is getting closer. Each summer transfer window sees the Portuguese midfielder linked with a move away from the Etihad. Bernardo’s future has also become the subject of jokes by his teammates. Ruben Dias told the National earlier this season: “At a certain moment last summer, I thought he might go. But I always tell him that every summer we have this series, which is called Bernardo, is going nowhere.”
However, this summer could see Bernardo Silva depart the world champions. The release clause in his deal now allows any interested party to skip negotiations with Manchester City and pay the clause if Bernardo is willing to move. It is a reality no one connected with Manchester City wants to face, but it may become one that becomes a reality this summer.
If another one of Manchester City’s key pieces does depart this summer, it will be a tough task to replace Bernardo. He is a one of a kind player and has been integral to Manchester City’s recent success. As seen with Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte, and Riyad Mahrez’s departures, replacing such key figures is no easy task. There are no like for like replacements for such players.
The summer transfer window is set to open in a couple of months. But it does feel that this time, Bernardo Silva may depart the world champions. The timing of Fabrizio Romano’s post has raised again the possibility ahead of the summer transfer window.
