One of Manchester City's biggest stars wanted to leave the Etihad - and is prepared to take a wage cut to push the deal through
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola might lose a key star(Image credit: Getty Images)
Manchester City are bracing themselves for the loss of one of their biggest players.
The Treble winners saw midfield talisman Ilkay Gundogan depart last summer along with Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte, with the club refusing to offer Gundogan a longer-term deal. Kevin De Bruyne, another senior member in the side, has now been linked with an exit for similar reasons, too.
But with one key player in the Manchester City side, offering terms are not a problem – and the player himself would actually take a wage cut to leave Eastlands.
Kevin De Bruyne is rumoured to be considering a City exit (Image credit: Alamy)
This has been a big story in Catalonia for a year now, with Spanish outlet Diario Sportclaiming last summer that Silva was “desperate” for the transfer before Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romanoposted on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that the Portuguese schemer has a release clause worth £50 million.
Such a clause is said to have been inserted to attract Barça specifically, with the 29-year-old apparently so keen for the deal to happen that he's willing to drop his salary.
Bernardo Silva is reportedly desperate for his Barcelona move (Image credit: Getty Images)
In FourFourTwo's opinion, it'll be Barça or no one for Silva – but the sticking point will still be the price. With the Blaugrana cash-strapped, even a £50m fee could prove to be too expensive, with a loan deal similar to that of Joao Cancelo more appealing to president Joan Laporta.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
