Manchester City star, Bernardo Silva has been a top priority for Spanish champions Barcelona despite the financial hurdles surrounding the club.

The Catalans were close to signing the Portuguese, as the player withheld renewing his contract with the treble winners, but the opportunity closed as Barcelona could not submit a convincing offer to City.

The attacking midfielder ended up signing a new contract with City, but kept the door open for a Barcelona move open as the contract covers just a year, renewing the contract from 2025 to 2026, with improved wages placing him among the top earners at the Etihad.

According to Mundo Deportivo, while Bernardo Silva signed a new contract, the player now has a release clause worth £50m in the deal.

However, reports have it that Silva still wants to join Barcelona which is why he convinced City to insert the £50m release clause which is way below the £80-100 million asking price requested of him from the Premier League club initially, so that it can be affordable for the Catalans.