Al-Hilal targets Man City Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva contract runs with 2025, while the club for keen for him to sign an extension, he has a number of offers on the table. Paris St-Germain are interested in 28 years old, as Barcelona who have been in contract with the Portuguese for the past two seasons.
Man City treble winner captain Ilkay Gundagon agreed to move Barcelona on a free transfer. Both clubs could be eclipsed by the offers in Saudi Arabia. Ruben Neves are in the process of signing with Al-Hilal are pushing hard to persuade Silva to Join.
The Portuguese international has been involved in all five Premier League title successes at City under Pep Guardiola after joining the club in 2017.
He helped the club win the Treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup last season. A number of high-profile players have already moved to Saudi Arabian clubs. Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in January.
France midfielder N’Golo Kante has also agreed to join the country’s league champions Al-Ittihad after the end of his contract at Chelsea, while compatriot Karim Benzema has also signed for the same side.
The treble-winner has been linked with a move away after winning the Champions League, with Barcelona remaining in the conversation. That is a move the Portuguese star has hoped to make in previous summers, without it coming to fruition. However, Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal now appear primed to blow any other bidders out of the water.
Al Hilal have the budget to offer Bernardo upwards of £75m per season if they so choose. This would come on top of a hefty transfer fee, with Pep Guardiola’s side holding out for £70m to let one of their most important players depart.
The 28-year-old has also been linked with a Paris Saint-Germain move as he prepares to potentially leave England. Barcelona’s interest, meanwhile, will depend on their financial situation. Man city agrees a deal to sign for Mateo Kovacic worth 30 million euros.
Barca are thought to need to sell before they can buy. They are ready to welcome Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer, but signings for a fee particularly a big fee are much more of a challenge.
Al Hilal finished third in the Saudi Pro League last season, with a transfer ban preventing them from making new additions, as Riyadh rivals Al Nassr landed Ronaldo. This ban has now been lifted, though, and they’re attempting to make major moves ahead of the new season, following fresh backing from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Neves will be their first signing, with a £47m move agreed. They also attempted to land Lionel Messi, only for the World Cup winner to opt for a move to Inter Miami.
Bernardo Silva journey over the league
Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has taken part in the vast majority of the side’s Premier League matches in 2022/2023, making 34 appearances overall and playing 2,203 minutes. He has started in 24 of these appearances across their 38 fixtures and entered as a substitute on 10 occasions.
Silva last made an appearance in a competition game on May 24, playing 84 minutes for Manchester City against Brighton & Hove Albion in a 1-1 draw. The midfielder has scored four Premier League goals this campaign. He has amassed five yellow cards.
It was against Newcastle United on March 4 when Silva last scored, netting in a 2-0 win. His opening goal of the campaign came in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United on August 21.
In last season’s Premier League, Silva played in 35 games for Manchester City, scored eight goals and provided four assists.
Silva switched to Manchester City in July 2017 from Benfica II, for whom he made 38 league appearances in total, scoring seven goals.
The midfielder debuted in a Premier League fixture for Manchester City on August 12, 2017 as a substitute against Brighton & Hove Albion aged 23 years and two days. So far in his Premier League career, he has appeared 200 times in the competition, with 33 goals scored and 33 assists.
