Barcelona president Joan Laporta branded Bernardo Silva "a very good player" when asked about a possible move for the Manchester City attacker this summer.
Despite their financial problems, the Catalan giants have been able to improve their squad in the current market with the additions of Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Jules Kounde.
Bernardo is also being strongly linked with the La Liga club, and a recent report claimed that Man City are open to selling the Portugal international for the right price.
Laporta called the 27-year-old "a very good player" when asked about a possible move, but he was not prepared to confirm an interest due to his respect for senior figures at Man City.
"He is a very good player. I have to respect, though, that he belongs to Manchester City. I have some friends there, like Pep Guardiola, Tixi Bergstein and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. There are a lot of people I know," Laporta told CBS Sports.
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Bernardo has been a vital player for Man City since arriving from Monaco in July 2017, making 249 appearances in all competitions, contributing 48 goals and 50 assists.
Last term, he was again a key player for Guardiola's side, scoring 13 goals and registering seven assists in 50 appearances, and he still has three years left to run on his contract.
Bernardo attempted to leave the Etihad Stadium last summer, though, and it is believed that he is keen to return to Portugal or move to a Spanish club in the near future.
"Bernardo Silva wants to leave. There are two or three players who want to go. When they bring some offer and they want to leave, we are open to discuss... but it depends on them," Guardiola told reporters last summer.
Meanwhile, Bernardo told Channel 11 earlier this year: "I miss Portugal a lot. If I could go back in a year or two, I would. Not only because I would like to play for Benfica again, but because I miss my family and living in Portugal very much."
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The Portuguese has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and four League Cup crowns during a highly-successful period at the Etihad Stadium.
"As of today, in my opinion, I think Bernardo Silva will continue with us next season. Our goal, as a club, is for him to stay with us. This is our intention, although I don't like to keep players that are unhappy," Guardiola told reporters last month when asked about Bernardo's future.
Laporta also told CBS Sports that he was delighted with Barcelona's transfer window thus far and said that more players are likely to arrive before the deadline.
"I think we have shown on the U.S. tour, and with our Clasico win, we are competitive and the fans (both Barcelona supporters and just football lovers) are excited by that," he added.
"That game in Las Vegas was unofficial but there are really no friendlies between Barcelona and Real Madrid. And what was important was not just that we won but the style we played in doing so.
"For us, it's about having the same philosophy as during many other periods of success during our history. We have improved with new signings like Lewandowski, Christensen, Kessie, Kounde and Raphinha and there are probably still some more to come."
Barcelona, who finished second in La Liga last season, will open their 2022-23 campaign at home to Rayo Vallecano on August 13.
Matt Law
