Pep Guardiola provides jovial response to Bernardo Silva and Barcelona links

Pep Guardiola has seemingly shot down preliminary talk of a potential move away for Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva this summer.

Following the conclusion of last season, the future of Bernardo Silva appeared unclear amid reports of a potential transfer away from Manchester City.

The root of the ambiguity was regarding the arrival of £100m Jack Grealish and an indifferent campaign for Silva personally.

Arriving from Aston Villa, Grealish was viewed as a potential replacement for the Portuguese international, with the two both deployed in an attacking midfield position or to the left of a front three.

In the 2020/21 season, Silva was forced to settle for a less prominent role thanks in large part to the rise of in-form Ilkay Gundogan and helped only by Kevin de Bruyne’s absence.

City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed rumours of Silva’s unrest in September last year after a 1-0 win against Chelsea.

"“After that season [2020/21], later he dropped a little bit, he was not in the position he prefers but now he’s back and hopefully he can help us,” he stated.“If, at the end, he wants to leave and decides [to go] the only thing I can say is that the guy or the club that gets Bernardo is going to take one of the best players in the world.“Is he happier? You cannot play in this way if you are not happy, it’s impossible.”Via: Sky Sports"

Bernardo Silva now settled at the Etihad Stadium?

2021/22 proved a momentous season for the 27-year-old, however, as he played a lead role in his fourth and City’s sixth Premier League title.

Now part of Pep’s ‘first-team’ – notwithstanding the rotation synonymous with the Spaniard’s squad – Silva, alongside De Bruyne and anchored by Rodri formed an absurdly well-balanced midfield trifecta.

Retaining possession is central to his manager’s system and Silva’s ability to recycle the ball while playing with freedom makes him an archetypal Pep player.

His form and involvement in 2021/22 have gone some way to dampen reports of a disturbance but Pep has attempted to ensure any doubt is quelled.

“They would have a difficult time [trying to sign Bernardo],” said Guardiola at a Golf hotel in Mallorca, before smiling and saying nothing else on the matter, as quoted by Sky Sports.

His response was triggered by a suggestion that his former club Barcelona – who were previously linked with Silva – would renew their interest in the coming weeks should Frenkie de Jong leave the club.

Bernardo Silva is contracted until the summer of 2025, after signing a new deal in 2019, therefore putting City in a position of power regarding negotiations. The Catalan side, who are themselves in a position of jeopardy financially, would have to fork out a significant fee to secure the midfield magician’s signature.