Barcelona deems Bernardo Silva signing too risky due to midfield depth and salary concerns

According to Diario AS, Barcelona seriously considered signing Bernardo Silva, but an internal assessment concluded that his position overlapped with existing midfielders and his high salary could disrupt the wage structure, leading them to ultimately pass on the opportunity.

For years, Bernardo Silva's name frequently appeared on Barcelona's transfer target list. Xavi was keen to sign him, believing he was the perfect fit for Barcelona's style – technically skilled, excellent at linking play, highly experienced internationally, and a proven versatile player. For any coach, he is an attractive option. However, Manchester City was never truly willing to let him go, nor did they engage in serious negotiations over his transfer. It wasn't until his contract expired this summer that he left the Premier League and ultimately joined Real Madrid.

Barcelona also considered signing him seriously, but some voices within the club believed that this move could have introduced certain risks, which they have now avoided. At a time when Barcelona aims to build its team around La Masia academy graduates and financial sustainability, Bernardo Silva's arrival could have disrupted this balance.

Few within Barcelona questioned that the Portuguese international represented an excellent market opportunity. The issue was never about his sporting quality. But Barcelona currently has an extremely deep midfield – Pedri, Gavi, Olmo, Bernal, Fermín, and de Jong – making Bernardo Silva far from an urgent priority.

Manchester City has previously suffered the consequences of signing marquee players without fully considering the team's actual needs. Barcelona still remembers similar lessons, such as when Griezmann arrived for a €120 million fee while Messi already occupied the same position, forcing the team to adapt tactically and deploy Griezmann too wide.

It is also acknowledged that signing Bernardo Silva would have reduced playing time for several young players, particularly Fermín, Gavi, and Bernal, who need continuous minutes to develop. Club sources insist that the Portuguese player's experience and quality would have benefited the team, but protecting the development of this generation of potentially defining players is more important.

There are also financial considerations. Player salaries naturally must align with their level, and this salary expense would have created difficulties for Barcelona – the club still needs to sign a center forward. Barcelona does not want to accumulate high-wage players again, as the excessive salaries of certain players in the past have burdened the club and left lasting scars.

It should also be noted that although Flick eventually gave his approval, this came with the prerequisite of selling players first. Signing Bernardo Silva was not an explicit requirement or specific priority for the German coach. This would have created operational complications, which have now been avoided.

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