Pep Guardiola could not confirm that Bernardo Silva will stay at Manchester City this season amid strong interest from Barcelona.
Barcelona were keen when Bernardo was looking to leave the Etihad last summer but did not come in with a suitable offer. Despite the financial difficulties of the Catalan club, they have taken several steps in recent months to raise money for transfers and have made their interest in Bernardo clear.
City have already sold a number of senior players in the current window, with Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko moving to Arsenal and Raheem Sterling going to Chelsea. Nathan Ake was wanted by Chelsea as well, although the west London club refused to meet the terms that were demanded.
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Guardiola was asked about Bernardo ahead of City's first Premier League game of the season at West Ham. He would go on to say that the club have not received any offers yet and that the player is ready for the start of the season, but would not rule out him leaving.
"I said many times, I was more than satisfied to train the guys these years, I was comfortable working with Alex, Gabriel, Raheem. Three incredible characters.
"At the end, sometimes for the clubs, for the player, for the agent, for many reasons sometimes you have to divide our path - especially the desire for the players. I have said many times I want players to be happy here and for us to try to do it together.
"I would love if Bernardo could continue here because he's a special player for all of us in the locker room, but I don't know what is going to happen. What will happen is going to happen.
"If he stays, it is perfect. If in the end he has to leave it is because football is like this, the clubs have an agreement, the player has the desire and I will not be the reason to stop the desire.
"When you are a football player your life is so short. You don't realise and immediately it is over. At the same time. I'm just a little part of the club. What the club decides is ok for me."
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