Guardiola hoping to keep Silva but leaves door open for Barca exit

Silva has been linked with a move to the Spanish side in recent weeks and Guardiola left the door open for the midfielder’s potential departure from the Premier League champion.

Silva has 169 appearances for City and has been on the score sheet 30 times. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he is keen to retain the services of Bernardo Silva, but added that the Portuguese international “likes Barcelona a lot”.

Silva has been linked with a move to the Spanish side in recent weeks and Guardiola left the door open for the midfielder’s potential departure from the Premier League champion.

Silva is one of those players who has blossomed under Guardiola. He has 169 appearances for City and has been on the score sheet 30 times. He’s also considered as one of the best playmakers, with an assist tally of 29 in his five-season stint with Manchester City.

“I’m no one to tell Barca to forget about (signing) Bernardo,” Guardiola told reporters on Wednesday, speaking after Barcelona and City drew a friendly game 3-3 at Camp Nou.

“We want him to stay with us, but I don’t want anyone who’s not happy. The first thing would be for the clubs to come to an agreement, but there has been no offer for him in these last two years.

“I don’t want him to go, he’s a superlative player and a great person ... And there are only seven or eight days left (in the window) and we would have to turn to the transfer market. I want him to stay. That said, it is true Bernardo likes Barcelona a lot.”

Barcelona manager Xavi, who was sitting besides Guardiola in the news conference, said any move would “depend on City”.

City, who is second in the league standings, hosts ninth-placed Crystal Palace on Saturday.