Renowned journalist Gerard Romero has confirmed that Bernardo Silva has rejected an official offer from Atletico Madrid, as he is strictly determined to join Barcelona this summer.
The Portuguese international’s contract with Manchester City expired at the end of last season. He has yet to finalize his next destination, a decision that could potentially be delayed until after he concludes his campaign with Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
Over the past few days, Atletico Madrid presented a substantial offer to Bernardo, including a salary very close to what he was earning in the English Premier League, alongside promises of a pivotal starting role under manager Diego Simeone.
Despite these lucrative terms, the 32-year-old playmaker completely rejected the chance to move to the Rojiblancos. He has explicitly informed his agent, Jorge Mendes, that his sole desire if he remains in Europe is to wear the Barcelona shirt for the next chapter of his career.
To make this dream a reality, Bernardo is making massive financial sacrifices, accepting a significant pay cut. Furthermore, he is fully prepared to wait until the final moments of the transfer window if necessary to seal his move to the Blaugrana.
The Barcelona board is actively working on finalizing the deal. However, they must first offload a player to comply with financial regulations. Recent reports from Catalan outlets suggest that Marc Casadó could leave the club to free up the necessary wage bill to register Silva.
Meanwhile, Hansi Flick has given his green light to the club’s hierarchy to proceed with the signing, while sporting director Deco simultaneously focuses his efforts on acquiring a world-class striker to succeed Robert Lewandowski.
