“It’s beyond my means to shell out £40 million for his services; perhaps he ought to return to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola still has a lot to learn when it comes to handling players of such high quality; he’s akin to a new coach finding his way.”

Barcelona seems hesitant to fork out £40 million for a Manchester City player, indicating a potential return to his former club. There’s skepticism about Pep Guardiola’s ability to handle such high-caliber players, likening him to a rookie coach lacking the necessary experience.

Reports suggest that Barcelona isn’t keen on triggering the release clause to sign a Manchester City player this summer. During the last transfer window, they managed to bring in Ilkay Gundogan for free and secured Joao Cancelo on a season-long loan.

Behind closed doors, it’s known that Barcelona has their eyes on Bernardo Silva this summer, albeit not as their top priority. The £50 million release clause in his contract appears steep, and Barcelona might only pursue him if they can offload some players first.

Xavi, set to be Barcelona’s manager next season, has a strong admiration for Silva. He tried to lure him to the club last summer but couldn’t succeed. Since joining Manchester City in 2017 for £43 million, Silva has been a stalwart, playing 349 games across all competitions, scoring 66 goals, assisting 62 times, and winning numerous titles.

Silva’s impact at City is undeniable, featuring in 37 out of 43 games this season, earning a hefty weekly wage of £300,000. Guardiola has praised Silva’s game intelligence and ball control, as shown by his crucial goal in City’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Chelsea.

Considering Silva’s pivotal role at City and Barcelona’s reluctance to meet his release clause, it might be wise for them to drop their pursuit of him altogether.