According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, Manchester City star Bernardo Silva is linked with a move to Serie A heavyweights Juventus.
The Portuguese international, 27, wanted to leave Manchester City for pastures new in the summer but had no suitors in the market. As per the standards he’s set in the Premier League since arriving from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017, the creative midfielder had a poor last season and made only 26 league appearances.
Bernardo Silva lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI and even though he racked up 45 appearances across all competitions in the 2020/21 campaign, he wasn’t as impactful as he’d been for the Sky Blues in the seasons before.
Perhaps the £100 million signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa during the summer transfer window looked to be the final nail in the Portuguese midfielder’s coffin at the Etihad Stadium. That hasn’t been the case; however, with Silva starting six of the Cityzens’ seven Premier League fixtures this term.
Yet, the 27-year-old playmaker continues to be linked with a move away from Manchester City. Juventus boss Max Allegri sees Silva as a perfect fit in his midfield, someone in the mould of club legend Claudio Marchisio, Calciomercato reports.
However, Manchester City aren’t willing to part ways with their twinkle-toed midfielder on the cheap. But the best they could do is agree to a short-term loan from January until the end of the season and then get across the table to either go with another loan move or a permanent transfer, the report adds.
Calciomercato also states before a deal for the Sky Blues star could materialise, Juventus would first need to offload a few players such as Aaron Ramsey and Weston McKennie to make space for Silva in the squad. If they succeed in getting Ramsey and McKennie off their books, only then will the Turin giants accelerate their plans to sign the Manchester City star.
With Silva back in Guardiola’s starting XI and back to his best at the Etihad Stadium, the Portuguese international has no concrete reason to leave the club now. Well, this could force Juventus to shift their focus elsewhere regardless of apparently making contact with Manchester City for Silva.