Joao Felix reveals which Portugal team-mate wants Messi's No.10 Barca shirt

Barcelona have been URGED to buy Bernardo Silva this summer by their on-loan forward, and Silva’s fellow Portugal international, Joao Felix.

Silva, 29, was close to agreeing a move to Camp Nou last summer but Barca couldn’t afford to get a deal done.

The playmaker subsequently signed a new contract with City which expires in 2026, with it being reported that the new deal contained a €50 million release clause.

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Having joined City from Monaco for €70m back in 2017, Silva has been an undisputed hit at the Etihad.

He has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup among other honours but links with Barca and indeed PSG refuse to go away.

And now his national team colleague Felix has weighed in, saying that his current club should make it a priority to bring him in.

📺 DIRECTO @JijantesFC

🗣️ João Félix: "Que traigan a Bernardo Silva, que lo traigan. Es muy bueno, y como persona aun mejor."

"Él me pregunta sobre Barcelona, tiene familia aquí. Me pregunta como son las cosas aquí. Le he dicho que está todo bien para que venga"

🔗… pic.twitter.com/aN7NwdRk62

— Jijantes FC (@JijantesFC) April 4, 2024

"If I were Deco [Barcelona sporting director] for a day, I would sign Bernardo Silva without a doubt,” he told JijantesFC.

"Let them bring him. Have you seen him play? He's even better as a person. He's from [Joao] Cancelo's generation. Now players last until they are 35-36 years old. His sister-in-law is here, [he has asked me] about how things are here, the weather, tax issues... I told him it's all right for him to come.”

Can Barca afford Bernardo?

It’s unclear how Barca could afford to sign Bernardo without falling foul of current financial fair play regulations.

The cash-strapped Catalans would have to sell a number of first-team players in order to do a deal of that size and take the wage hit that Silva’s signing would bring.

“I don't think Manchester City will make it easy,” Felix said. “For €50m I would bring him, even for €60-70 million."

Bernardo Silva wants Messi's No.10 shirt

Felix also disclosed that Silva had even gone as far as choosing which Barcelona squad number he’d like. And it’s none other than the one made famous by Lionel Messi.

"He would like to wear the number 10," Felix said. "It's a very important number at the club, you can't give it to just anyone, you have to be careful. It's my favourite number, but I've never worn it."

Silva has also been linked with a return to boyhood club Benfica, and revealed last month he could be there next season.