Guardiola and Laporta joke about Bernardo Silva transfer
FT Desk
- 20 Jun 2022 11:20 BST
- 3 min read
Pep Guardiola and Joan Laporta have joked about the possible transfer of Bernardo Silva to Barcelona.
The Portuguese star is a well-known transfer target for the Blaugrana this summer, with Barca coach Xavi a huge fan of the midfielder.
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Xavi is said to want to replace Frenkie de Jong – who is in negotiations with Manchester United – with Silva.
Bernardo himself is also said to be keen on a move to Camp Nou, having attempted to make the move a year ago.
Man City would like to keep Bernardo, with coach Guardiola regarding Silva as a key player in their team.
On Monday, Guardiola and Barcelona president Laporta held a press conference to promote this summer’s charity match between Barca and City.
The two clubs will meet at Camp Nou on August 24 to raise funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) awareness.
Guardiola confirmed that he plans to bring a full-strength team with all his stars for the charity game.
"We will bring all the artillery for the match,” Pep stated.
This prompted Laporta to cheekily reply: "Bernardo Silva too?"
Guardiola was not to be upstaged as he laughed in response: "Bernardo Silva and 10 more."
🔥🔥 OJOO!! Laporta le tira a Pep si Bernardo Silva vendrá al partido de agosto!
Pep : “Bernardo y 10 más” pic.twitter.com/oCFNAcVVBK— Gerard Romero (@gerardromero) June 20, 2022
Pep was later asked by reporters if he believed Bernardo will stay.
"I think he will continue with City but I have always said I don't want players that don't want to be with us. But Bernardo is important and I think he will stay," he said.
It remains to be seen whether Bernardo Silva will still be a Man City player by the time the two teams meet but the chances are certainly in the Premier League team’s favour.
City are in negotiations to sell Raheem Sterling to Chelsea and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal.
As this feature explains, it appears unlikely that they will sanction the sale of three attacking stars all in one summer.
Certainly there will be no financial requirement to do so as the sale of Sterling and Jesus will raise over €100 million.
