Bernardo Silva is leaving Manchester City this summer for free. According to reports, he has reached an agreement in principle with Barcelona. Jorge Mendes, his agent was key for his transfer to Barcelona. On paper, he's looks to be an obvious signing.
Flick has a loaded midfield with enough ball-playing qualities and Barcelona aren't exactly sure where he fits. This is the question no one seems to have an answer to, but here's my opinion on this.
The numbers at a glance
Bernardo Silva has 2 goals and 4 assists in 2515 minutes for City this season. He's averaging a 7.19 rating from FotMob. That's a respectable figure but not world-class for someone like Bernardo.
In his best season for City he got 13 goals and 14 assists in 51 games, but those days are long gone. However, at 31 he is still a world-class playmaker.
Strengths
- Technical range and passing prowess.
- Highly press resistant.
- Positional intelligence.
- Versatility across multiple positions in midfield and attack.
- 26 trophies which shows he is a coveted winner.
Weaknesses
- Â Declining goal threat (2 league goals this season)
- Â Nine yellow cards this season indicating decline in defensive ability.
- Â Lack of vertical pace in transitions.
- Â Downward trajectory in terms of footballing value.
Would he be suitable for Flick's tactics?
Yes but only partly. The midfield required by Flick is based around two pillars: high intensity pressing and ball carrying.
Pedri has the creative spark and the press resistance to be the best in this position. Gavi brings the energy and competitiveness. Frenkie de Jong offers the ball carrying ability and passing range. Young Marc Bernal is the perfect hybrid for a deep lying playmaker.
Bernardo Silva fits into the midfield mostly under the Pedri mold, though a worse version. His uniqueness to this team lies in his pedigree as a winner, his experience, and his ability to play in several different positions (midfield and attacking).
Silva can play in multiple positions. We have seen him being deployed as a deep lying playmaker, number 10 and on the wing as an inside forward.
Flick's immediate concern is signing a world class striker and a center-back. Signing a 31-year-old midfielder at high wages does not look to be a smart decision on the first glance.
Barcelona's midfield depth:
Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez.
There are seven midfielders and only three starting spots. Flick doesn't rotate seven players through three positions, therefore either Casado or someone else need to leave in order to generate space.
The "Free" transfer argument
It is not the price that's the problem, it is tactical. Deco needs to question how Bernardo fits into the current setup and with major attacking changes expected this summer.
It is not even a "free" transfer given his current wages are £300,000 a week. However, it is reported that Bernardo would be taking a 60% paycut to join the Blaugrana. The addition of Bernardo, even at reduced wages, will take up a significant slice of the budget.
It's not the wages as money is not a factor for Silva. He apparently wants to move to Barcelona to be closer to his family.
The verdict
Barcelona do not need Bernardo Silva sportingly. However need and business are different. If wages are extremely low, and Flick can see a specific role off the bench against Europe's elite, then buying an experienced, highly technical, and versatile 31-year-old for basically free is a hard move to say no to.
The main problem is Barcelona have three much more pressing concerns. With likely additions to striker, winger and center-back this summer, taking away a big part of the wages for a luxury addition would be precisely the kind of move that Flick advised against all season.
However we must also see the merit in him. Getting a highly versatile player like Bernardo Silva might be just what we need. The season is long and we have seen our squad getting thin in crucial phases. Bernardo can fill multiple positions, be it midfield or the wing, and having someone like him in the squad generates calm in the squad depth.
The only problem is Barcelona's finances. My opinion would be to get him only after the other three key areas are solved.
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