‘Respect Bernardo for that’ – Man City fans erupts following deadline reports

After Joao Cancelo’s swift departure from the club, many City fans were braced for Bernardo Silva to try and also engineer a move away from the Etihad.

Silva has been a key player for City throughout most of his time at the club, wining four Premier League titles, an FA Cup, four League Cups and playing in a Champions League final since he arrived from Monaco for £43.5m in the summer of 2017.

But, while happy in a footballing sense, the Portugal international has been unsettled off the pitch for a considerable time. He first began ‘feeling along’ during the UK’s first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and later asked to leave the club altogether in the summer of 2021.

He has been at the centre of a number of high-profile transfer sagas in recent windows, most recently coming last summer, when the former AS Monaco man was linked with a switch to La Liga giants FC Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola admitted last year that Silva ‘likes Barcelona a lot’ and wouldn’t stand in his way if the player wanted to leave, despite stressing that he wants to keep him. The club took a firmer stance.

Barcelona have reportedly made an audacious late attempt to sign the 28 year-old, though have seen their offer of an initial loan with an obligation to buy rejected by the Premier League champions.

AS report that the Catalan club contacted Manchester City in an attempt to reach an agreement but have seen their approaches turned down.

David Novo/@DavidNovo1 via @Record_Portugal has reported that any deal being completed on deadline day is ‘completely out of the question’ and not even Bernardo Silva is considering leaving the club in the middle of the season.

The report was shared on Twitter by City Xtra and it attracted plenty of attention from the club’s supporters.

@Mysterio__01: “Respect bernardo for that 🙌”

@MCFCOK47: “Class attitude.”

@armund_masamba: “Shout out Bernardo, the guy goes about his wishes to leave the club with so much professionalism..”

@BradleyMCFC_: “Bernardo has always said he would want a move but only if an offer comes in, h’es never once tried to force anything through or disrespect the club & still gives his all when he plays.”

@SheikhMCI: “Thank you Bernardo. Get this man the move he wants this summer. He deserves it.”