Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva has reportedly been offered a ‘lucrative contract’ to join the Saudi Pro League.
Since signing from Monaco in 2017, the 28-year-old has been a key cog in Pep Guardiola’s machine, producing 55 goals and 59 assists in 306 games across all competitions.
Bernardo has won 14 titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium, and he was a key player of the Citizens team that won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League treble in 2022-23.
However, the Portugal international is said to be eager to move on and has reportedly informed Man City of his wish to leave the club this summer.
Bernardo has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, but the Catalan club’s well-known financial issues prevent them from pursuing a deal for the playmaker, who City are believed to value at more than £75m.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, clubs in Saudi Arabia have entered the fight for Bernardo’s signing, with talks claimed to have taken place with the player’s agent Jorge Mendes and “financial numbers” mentioned.
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Ornstein adds that it is unclear whether Bernardo has received a formal offer, but it is expected that the playmaker will reject a lucrative move to the Middle East in order to stay in Europe.
This summer has seen a major influx of elite international players to the Middle East, with the Saudi quartet Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Al-Hilal, and Al-Nassr now all controlled by the nation’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Bernardo’s Portuguese international teammate Ruben Neves is on the verge of completing a £47 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers to Al-Hilal, and is said to have already completed his medical.
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