News Focus
- Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires this summer
- Atletico Madrid have overtaken Juventus as favourites to sign the Portugal star
- Barcelona turned down the chance to recruit the 31-year-old playmaker
- Silva is viewed as a replacement for departing forward Antoine Griezmann
Atletico Madrid have emerged as frontrunners to secure Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva on a free transfer. The 31-year-old will depart the Etihad Stadium when his deal ends this summer, concluding a nine-year stay with the Premier League side.
According to reports in Spain, Atletico sporting director Mateu Alemany is in discussions with agent Jorge Mendes. The proposed contract would run for two years with an option for a third based on performance targets.
The Portugal international had initially targeted a move to Barcelona, where Mendes holds significant influence. However, the Catalan giants rejected the opportunity. This development has allowed Atletico to move ahead of Juventus in the chase for his signature. AC Milan also retain interest, but Silva currently favours a switch to the Metropolitano.
The Madrid club regard Silva as a potential successor to Antoine Griezmann, who is set to leave this summer. While the Frenchman operated primarily as a forward, Silva functions mainly as a central midfielder but can fill the number 10 role. This season, he has scored three goals and provided five assists across 52 appearances.