Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva reportedly has a secret pact with manager Pep Guardiola that allows him to leave the club this summer should the right offer arrive.
The 27-year-old was reportedly eager to leave the Premier League champions last summer due to a lack of regular first-team football, but despite apparent interest from Barcelona, no move materialised.
The Portugal international would go on to enjoy a more important role during an impressive 2021-22 season, in which he scored 12 goals and registered seven assists in 48 appearances for the club across all competitions.
However, it has been reported recently that Barcelona remain keen to sign Silva this summer, primarily as a replacement for Frenkie de Jong, should the Dutchman make the move to City's rivals Manchester United.
Should the right offer arrive from the Catalan side during the transfer window, Silva will be free to discuss a move to Spain according to Mundo Deportivo.
The report suggests that Guardiola has promised the playmaker that he will not stand in his way this summer should he wish to depart the champions, as long as City receive the right transfer fee for his services.
Silva is said to desire a change following five years with City, and although Barcelona have apparently made initial contact with the Premier League outfit, no formal negotiations have taken place so far.
The midfielder still has three years left to run on his current contract in Manchester, where he has gone on to make 251 appearances for the club across all competitions since making the £43.6m move from Monaco back in July 2017.
Matthew Tranter
