It has been well documented that Bernardo Silva enjoys a very good relationship with Pep Guardiola.
Silva said as much himself last year just months after his manager was able to convince him to stay at the Etihad Stadium for another season. "Pep's [Guardiola] demands, when I arrived, were something I really liked a lot," he told the Daily Mail.
"It’s something I identify with — to be playing for a team where everybody fights every year to win titles and is never satisfied. I like to work with those demands every day."
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However, this year, even Guardiola may struggle to keep hold of the Portugal international. Silva is wanted by Barcelona who, despite their financial issues, are still a huge draw.
But it is their manager who could finally be the one to prise him away from the Etihad Stadium. Xavi has already explained that he likes his teams to play a similar brand of football to Guardiola.
"My philosophy as a coach reflects the style we developed for many years under the influence of Johan Cruyff and La Masia, and that has its greatest exponent in the way of playing football in Barcelona," he explained. "I love seeing teams take the initiative on the field, attack and return to the essence of what we all loved from our childhood days – possession football."
At Barcelona, Silva would be able to work with a manager that has learnt a lot from the City boss. Xavi spent four years under the leadership of Guardiola and it is likely that he picked up similar man-management skills.
Guardiola has managed to create a solid relationship between himself and his team in Manchester which has led to great success. Xavi, albeit in a shorter spell, is fostering a style with his squad that echoes that which Guardiola has managed to create.
Xavi also has full power at Barcelona over transfer business. He is clearly able to build his own vision for a team at the Catalan club and due to the legendary status he holds, faces little opposition.
These similarities could now spell bad news for City. In Barcelona and Xavi, Silva has an option which would allow him to keep the fundamental elements he looks for in both a club and a manager.
The expectation at Barcelona is perhaps greater now than it ever has been considering their shaky couple of years but, if anything, that could help seal his deal away from Manchester. On Thursday, Gabriel Jesus spoke about the project being a key reason for his move to Arsenal.
For Silva, the temptation of a new challenge may well be too great an opportunity to turn down.
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