After approaching players like Karim Benzema, Ruben Neves, and N’Golo Kante this summer, Saudi Arabia have set their sights on Bernardo Silva.
This is according to David Ornstein, who suggests the Manchester City playmaker has received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia recently. Talks have taken place with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes.
Bernardo Silva is one of the players Xavi Hernandez has longed to sign ever since being appointed as the Barcelona coach. The Spaniard is a huge admirer of the €80 million-rated Man City superstar, as he feels he could be the ideal partner to Pedri in the interior midfield position.
Barcelona were closely linked with a move for Silva last summer, but the transfer did not materialise as the club simply did not have enough funds to do so. They are facing a similar situation this time around.
This is despite the fact that Silva has shown the desire to leave Manchester City this summer, in favour of a new adventure elsewhere. Barcelona were touted as one of the destinations, along with Paris Saint-Germain.
But as per Ornstein, it appears Saudi Arabia has emerged as the latest suitor for Silva. The country has offered him a lucrative deal, as they anticipate the player to leave Etihad in the coming summer.
Silva, for his part, prefers remaining in Europe amid interest from Barcelona and PSG. But Ornstein suggests the playmaker is evaluating all options and will make a decision accordingly. The player has received pleas to even continue at Man City as well.
Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia’s approach is yet another reminder that the dynamics of the transfer market in Europe are being disrupted due to the vast sum of money being offered by the oil-rich nation.
Unlike other players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kante, or Benzema, Silva is relatively young and still at the top of his game. His potential move to Saudi, therefore, could be massive, as far as the nation’s footballing ambitions are concerned.