Featured Image Credit: Getty & Instagram: @bettsg
Topics: Manchester City, Barcelona, Premier League, La Liga, Bernardo Silva, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
Alex Brotherton
Topics: Manchester City, Barcelona, Premier League, La Liga, Bernardo Silva, Manchester City Transfer News & Rumours
A Manchester City star has been spotted on a flight back from Barcelona amid transfer reports linking him with the Spanish giants.
Last summer Man City had a pretty busy transfer window by their standards, with several members of Pep Guardiola's treble-winning squad departing for pastures new.
FA Cup final hero Ilkay Gundogan declined to sign a new contract at the Etihad Stadium and instead joined Barcelona, while Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte joined Saudi Pro League sides Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr respectively.
Joao Cancelo joined Gundogan in Barcelona on a season-long loan, although he was not involved in City's treble exploits after falling out with Guardiola.
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One player who did not leave the club, despite asking to do so during each of the previous three summer windows, was Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese star has played a pivotal role in City's success in recent years, establishing himself as one of the best players in the Premier League and indeed European football.
Despite that, Silva asked to leave the club in the summers of 2020, 2021 and 2022, not because he wasn't happy at City but because he struggled to settle into life in Manchester.
City's policy is to let players leave if they attract as suitable offer, as was the case with Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Cole Palmer.
The reigning Premier League champions have never received a suitable offer for Bernardo, despite Barcelona's desperation to sign him.
The financial struggles of the Spanish giants has made a move difficult, although a scoop from a BBC journalist suggests there might be movement on Barca's end.
On Wednesday, BBC Sport journalist Bettywyn Glover shared on her Instagram story that she spotted Silva on her Ryanair flight from Barcelona to Manchester.
Silva penned a one-year contract extension with City last August, with the deal reportedly including a £50 million release clause.
City have previously refused to sell the 29-year-old for that kind of fee, so the clause will make it easier for Barcelona or another potential suitor to prise him away.