Eric Garcia: Bernardo Silva has to fight for his place at Barcelona

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 28 Dec 2022 17:31 GMT
• 3 min read

Bernardo Silva from Manchester City to Barcelona can feel like a transfer just waiting to happen, but he wouldn't have things all his own way at Camp Nou according to his former teammate Eric Garcia.

Bernardo has been heavily linked with a move to Barca since the start of the season, with there a feeling that he has achieved all he can in his six seasons at the Etihad, while Pep Guardiola admitted recently that he wouldn't stop his midfielder leaving for Catalonia.

"I don't want him to go, he's a superlative player and a great person," he said before the summer transfer window slammed shut. "I want him to stay. That said, it's true Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot."

READ: Man City star Bernardo Silva's €50m offer

Centre-back Garcia made exactly the same move in July 2021, returning to his first club on a free transfer. Pre-economic crisis Barca might gave had Bernardo by now, but they have little chance of meeting his €79.6 million Football Transfers valuation in the current climate, let alone his City asking price.

But even if Barca could afford Bernardo, it might not be the best way to spend their money, with Gavi and Pedri shining in his preferred central midfield position, and Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati making up their options out wide.

'Bernardo Silva the best, but…'

"I've always said that the best player in City is Bernardo Silva," Garcia told Gerard Romero on Twitch. "[But] if he comes to Barcelona he'll have to fight for his starting position as there's a lot of competition here."

READ: Ounahi in, Memphis out: What Barcelona need in January transfer window

Garcia's competition at centre-back has lightened in recent months with Ronald Araujo picking up a serious groin injury and Gerard Pique retiring, but he would have backed himself to make it anyway.

"I'm fully aware of my abilities," he said. "I come from Manchester City where I had a lot of competition and I had to make the most of it. At Barcelona, there is fierce competition and that makes us all better."