Silva shows Barcelona what they’re missing in Man City masterclass vs Real Madrid

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 18 May 2023 06:19 BST
• 4 min read

Bernardo Silva inspired Manchester City to a place in the Champions League final with a crucial brace in their 4-0 semi-final second leg victory over Real Madrid – and showed Barcelona what they could have won…

Barca held talks with the Silva last summer about a possible switch to the Camp Nou – and the Portuguese playmaker has been linked with a move away from City in the upcoming transfer window.

It was reported last month that Silva, 28, was keen to join the newly crowned LaLiga champions – while he recently suggested that he finds playing for City boring.

READ MORE: How much is Bernardo Silva worth?

In an interview with France Football, Silva explained: “The thing I like doing least is the thing I do most. The most boring matches are the games against teams that play with 10 defenders – and against us, it’s often like that.”

While he has a point, that certainly wasn’t the case on Wednesday night: Man City tore Real to shreds, with Silva sending them in 2-0 up at half-time at the Etihad Stadium.

The former Benfica and Monaco man will now have his eye on a maiden Champions League triumph – after being on the losing side in City’s only previous final appearance against Chelsea two years ago.

READ MORE: Verratti wants to quit PSG and join Messi at Barcelona

Silva a better signing than Messi?

Silva’s man-of-the-match performance might just have rekindled Barcelona’s interest – although, as ever, there are doubts as to whether the Catalan giants, still financially hamstrung, can afford certain players.

Besides, Xavi and co. don’t appear to have given up hope of re-signing Lionel Messi – who will leave PSG as a free agent this summer.

At seven years Messi’s junior, though, would Silva not be a more sensible target with the long-term in mind? If he’s still bored of Man City, that is…