Barcelona chief Joan Laporta insists on firm Bernardo Silva stance in new interview

Joan Laporta – president of FC Barcelona – has outlined a strong stance from the viewpoint of the club in regards to potential interest in Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva.

This week, the Portuguese midfielder has once again admitted to seeking a move away from the Etihad Stadium, revealing a desire to return to Benfica before his physical capabilities are not able to offer anything significant on the field to his former side.

Speaking to Record in Portugal, Bernardo Silva went as far as to say that his long-term career plan is now no longer possible due to his extended stay with Manchester City, having initially looked for an exit two years ago.

“When I was about to leave Manchester City two years ago, that would go right, (returning to Benfica) at 32. Now it won’t go right,” Silva said. “If I leave, and I don’t know if that will happen, a club that pays what City want for me won’t give me a three-year contract, they will give me a five-year contract. And it’s already 34 years old.”

He continued, “Being very realistic: for Bernardo to leave Manchester City for Benfica, or to leave another great European for Benfica, I cannot leave with two or three years on his contract, because Benfica do not have the money to pay these clubs; I have to go free. I’m in a difficult situation that I have to manage, but we’ll see what happens.”

One of the main suitors for the 28 year-old during the most recent summer transfer window was La Liga giants FC Barcelona, who largely saw the Manchester City star as a potential replacement for the seemingly outgoing Frenkie De Jong.

However, the financial state of the Camp Nou club ultimately put any deal on the back-burner, as the Premier League champions insisted on securing a fee in excess of €80 million, given the player’s strong contractual situation in east Manchester.

Now, club president Joan Laporta has doubled down on the Catalan club not being willing to sanction a deal for Bernardo Silva at the aforementioned asking price.

Speaking during a live interview with Què T’hi Jugues, Laporta said, “Bernardo Silva will not come (to Barcelona) for €80 million.

“This amount will not be paid.”

For now, Bernardo Silva’s main focus will stay with Pep Guardiola’s side and aiming to secure the club’s first ever Champions League trophy, with Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig awaiting in the round of 16 – which gets underway next month.

City travel to Chelsea this week in an attempt to cut down the gap between themselves and Arsenal to five points, after Mikel Arteta’s league leaders were held to a 0-0 home draw by Newcastle United earlier this week.