‘800k is insane’, ‘He ain’t turning that down’ – Man City fans react as ‘elite’ star offered ‘£650,000 a week’ pay rise to leave for Saudi Arabia

Manchester City fans have been reacting to a post on Twitter which relays a report that claims Bernardo Silva is being offered a massive £800,000-per-week salary to leave the club for the Saudi Pro League.

The Saudis are searching for more marquee summer signings to boost their booming league – and the Portuguese ace is one of their latest top targets.

Branded as ‘elite’ by the Guardian, the 28-year-old proved once again last season why he remains one of the best players in the world, especially coming up trumps in the Champions League.

They want Silva to join a growing list of top-quality players including N’Golo Kante, Ruben Neves, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who have all made the switch to Saudi Arabia.

According to the Daily Star, the Saudi side, believed to be Al-Hilal, is going to submit a £70m-plus bid for the Portugal international on top of a bumper £41.6m annual package.

Silva has two years left on his £150,000-a-week contract at the Etihad and Guardiola is said to be desperate to keep hold of him.

Yet the allure of a £650,000-a-week pay rise may be too much to turn down. City have already pushed back approaches from Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona for the player but are reportedly open to offers that exceed £60m.

He will also become yet another crucial member of Guardiola’s treble-winning side to depart this year. Ilkay Gundogan recently completed a move to Barcelona while Riyad Mahrez is expected to be on his way to Saudi Arabia as well.

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

@madebylewis_: “800k is insane.”

@Kidfromgwinnett: “That’s actually insane.”

@noxwarning: “Yeah he ain’t turning that down.”

@citehxen: “He’d be a mad man not to take that tbh, I wouldn’t even hold it against him.”

@MCFC_BRANDO: “If i’m Bernado i’m taking first flight to Saudi icl”

@citygalore: “They need to offer atleast €100M if they are offering him those insane wages.”

@Ayem47ii: “We shouldn’t be accepting anything less than 100m”

@griffo_85: “If Mount is going for £55m and Rice for £105m then Bernardo is easily £100m plus”

@Jimmy81520131: “If they can afford to give him 800k a week they can give us 90m for him.”

@xHageneeSx: “They shouldn’t let him go for any less than £90m, for me personally even £100m. They can afford it and he’s a top, top player. We need to stop letting everyone go for pennies. Other clubs ask these prices, why shouldn’t we? But do allow him to go, he’s done enough to earn that..”