Barcelona sporting director says Bernardo Silva wanted to play for Hansi Flick’s side

Bernardo Silva plays for Real Madrid, but his first choice was FC Barcelona, according to their sporting director Deco. Silva left Manchester City after nine years in the summer transfer window.

“He wanted to come to Barça, but it didn’t work out,” Deco said in an interview on Spanish radio.

“We have certain parameters, and it wasn’t the position we were looking for. Besides, it came down to financial terms and playing time—he wanted to play. If his perspective differs from ours, there is nothing we can do.”

The 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder has been a star for City and the Portuguese national team for years. He won the Premier League six times and the UEFA Champions League once with City. He also won the Nations League twice with Portugal, once while being named Player of the Tournament.

He signed for Madrid as a free agent, though his signing was by no means truly free. Madrid reportedly paid him a €10 million signing bonus, a €10m agent fee, and €20m a year in salary for three years, plus taxes.

Barça’s offer was reportedly significantly lower.

The Catalans instead opted to reinforce the midfield through another ex-City player, Rodri.

“A few months ago, we didn’t even consider signing him,” Deco said. “We saw it as impossible because he had another year left on his contract. The moment word got out that he might leave City, I asked their sporting director, who confirmed that they would let him go.”

Rodri is a very different type of player, acting as a holding midfielder and metronome rather than an attacking specialist like Silva.

The FIFA World Cup hero was not signed on the cheap, either. His salary is said to be around €30m a year, not to mention a €76.5m transfer fee. However, Rodri’s situation was different, as he was under contract with City and coming off an amazing World Cup.