Xavi Hernandez has selected Giovanni Lo Celso as Bernardo Silva’s replacement.
Silva is an unsung hero at Manchester City. The Portuguese starred at Monaco before realizing his potential at City. He struggled to settle in early on, but has since become an integral part of Pep Guardiola’s tactics, playing in multiple positions. Silva’s prolific work rate, positivity, and excellent tactical understanding have made him a favorite for big games. In the 2022-23 season, he was a key player in the treble. In 55 appearances, including cup competitions, he scored seven goals and provided eight assists, including a multi-goal performance in the UCL quarterfinals against Real Madrid.
Then, this summer, he was linked with a move. Paris Saint-Germain (PSGP) and Barcelona were among the clubs interested in him. PSG saw Silva as a replacement for Lionel Messi, while Barcelona wanted to add depth to their midfield.
Silva was positive about the move to Barcelona. Silva, who had previously struggled with transfer rumors, said that after winning the treble, he considered moving to Barcelona for a new challenge.
But City wanted to keep him, having already let go of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez, and with the futures of Aymeric Laporte, Joao Cancelo, and Cole Palmer unclear. City were keen to prevent further exodus, so they blocked all interest in Silva and pushed to re-sign him.
Fortunately, things turned out positively. European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano announced on social media that “Silva has reached a verbal agreement with Man City to sign a new contract. He will officially inform the club of his decision. City are hoping to finalize the deal within the next week. His contract runs until 2026.” 먹튀검증
The news of Silva’s re-signing was a ‘boost’ for another player. Tottenham Hotspur’s Lo Celso. He was touted as a replacement for Christian Eriksen, but after underperforming and becoming a non-factor, he is now a target for Barcelona. While he’s not a top priority, Barcelona have identified him as a “Plan B” in case they fail to land Silva. “Xavi sees Lo Celso as the perfect ‘Plan B’ if he fails to land Silva,” according to British outlet The Athletic. Silva’s re-signing is highly likely. It’s also increasingly likely that Lo Celso will leave Tottenham.