Bernardo Silva can play multiple positions, enhancing Barcelona's tactics

According to Diario Sport, Carles Planchart believes that Bernardo Silva will wait for Barcelona.

Guardiola once summarized Bernardo Silva's importance to Manchester City with these words: "He is irreplaceable. When Bernardo is not there, we have to switch to another system."

For Guardiola, just like Vitinha for PSG and Pedri for Barcelona, Bernardo Silva represents more of a role than a fixed position. His presence defines the team's style of play, even though he is not always on the field in the same area.

Guardiola also said: "He can do everything. A coach's dream is to have a player who can play any position except goalkeeper."

Guardiola's words are not bluster. In the famous Monaco team that Kylian Mbappé played for, Bernardo Silva played on the wing in a 4-4-2 system. After Manchester City signed him, Guardiola continuously experimented with the Portuguese player in different positions.

At Manchester City, Bernardo Silva has played as a pure central midfielder, which is his most natural position; he has also played as a central midfielder, attacking midfielder, false nine, and even as a makeshift left-back.

But beyond his versatility and industriousness, Guardiola has always emphasized another side of him: "I chose him as captain for a reason; he is always there when we are in big trouble. No matter what position he plays, he is always thinking about what is best for the team."

Barcelona lost Iñigo Martínez last summer and will now lose Lewandowski, meaning the team's leadership and experience are diminishing. In this situation, signing Bernardo Silva makes even more sense. He also aligns with a direction Flick seems to be contemplating: giving the team more control.

In the final stages of the season, with Yamal out, Flick repeatedly emphasized the idea of adding a fourth midfielder. Gavi, Pedri, Olmo, and Fermín spent a lot of time on the field together, while the right wing was shared by Rooney and Rashford.

Guardiola once said: "When I know Bernardo Silva is playing, I sleep more soundly."

In Flick's Barcelona system, Bernardo Silva's versatility would give Flick more options in multiple positions. More importantly, he would add a top-level competitor for the toughest matches of the season.

On important Champions League nights, it's not hard to imagine Barcelona lining up with a midfield of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, and Bernardo Silva. With this setup, Flick could field three of the team's best ball-controlling midfielders under pressure simultaneously.

At the same time, Flick would also get a player who could play a role similar to Xavi under Luis Enrique at Barcelona: a luxury substitute who could come on in the second half when the team lacked control. With Bernardo Silva, Flick could also rotate Pedri better, as the two are very similar in terms of footballing characteristics.

Like the Canary Islander, Bernardo Silva is not just known for his ability on the ball. He is also one of the players who covers the most distance in every match.

Bernardo Silva can play any of the three midfield positions. However, Flick currently has six players in these positions: Frenkie de Jong, Casado, Marc Bernal, Pedri, Gavi, and Olmo. If he joins, he would be the seventh option.

Therefore, from the club's perspective, possible ways to make room for Bernardo Silva include Casado's departure, although the player currently has no intention of leaving; or Rooney's departure from the front line. Bernardo Silva can play on both wings and also as a false nine.

In the season Manchester City won the treble, Bernardo Silva primarily played as a right winger, a position that belongs to Yamal at Barcelona. This season, he has often appeared alongside the defensive midfielder, whether partnered with Rodri, Nico, or Kovacic. This means his area of activity is very close to where Pedri is usually located.