Barcelona Seeks Talks with Man City on Player Transfer: SPORT

FC Barcelona has informed Manchester City of its desire to initiate discussions regarding the transfer of a player owned by the Premier League giants, as per reports from SPORT citing anonymous sources.

Earlier this week, Mundo Deportivo, a rival publication of SPORT, reported that City midfielder Bernardo Silva wishes to depart from his current club and join Barcelona.

In an interview with Jijantes, Silva’s Portugal teammate Joao Felix disclosed that the 29-year-old midfielder has inquired about life in the city where Felix currently plays for Atletico Madrid on loan. “His sister-in-law is here, [he’s asked me] about how things are here, the weather, tax issues… I told him it’s all right for him to come,” revealed the winger.

However, a potential move for Silva or Felix won’t be straightforward, given Barcelona’s history in the transfer market. On the other hand, Barcelona is already looking to commence talks with City regarding the outright purchase of Joao Cancelo, as reported by SPORT.

Cancelo, who arrived at Montjuic Stadium last August, is seen as a more affordable option compared to other players. While Atletico Madrid initially quoted $76 million (€70 million) for a star they purchased for almost double that amount from Benfica in 2019, City had initially asked for $43 million (€40 million) for the right back. Through his agent Jorge Mendes, City is looking to negotiate a lower fee with variables or another loan with an option to buy.

Despite interest from Saudi Arabia and other clubs, Cancelo reportedly intends to reject all offers in order to remain at a club where he has found happiness, especially after a fallout with City manager Pep Guardiola and an unsuccessful loan spell at Bayern Munich.

SPORT explains that Barcelona has informed Cancelo of their plans for him, which include the 29-year-old signing a contract until mid-2027, finally securing a natural right back for the Blaugrana.