David Silva recalls Barcelona approach before joining Manchester City | OneFootball

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have long stood as the two great pillars of Spanish football, but their influence reached an exceptional level during the first two decades of the 21st century.

That period not only saw domestic and European dominance from both clubs, but also a Spanish national team heavily shaped by players wearing either Blaugrana or white.

Yet there were notable exceptions. Some Spanish stars forged legendary careers without ever representing either Barcelona or Real Madrid, and David Silva stands among the most prominent of them.

The former Canary Islands midfielder made his breakthrough at Valencia CF, where his technical quality, vision, and intelligence quickly set him apart. His performances earned him a place in the Spanish national team and attracted interest from Europe’s elite.

As Mundo Deportivo reports, Silva has now revealed that Barcelona were among the clubs keen to sign him at the peak of his rise.

Photo by Bagu Blanco/Getty Images

Speaking on the podcast of former player Mario Suárez, Silva explained that in 2008, he received a direct call from Txiki Begiristain, who was Barcelona sporting director at the time. The intention was clear, as the club was exploring the possibility of bringing him to Camp Nou.

However, Valencia refused to negotiate his departure, blocking a move that could have placed Silva at the heart of a historic Barcelona side that would soon dominate world football.

Valencia’s stance would not last forever. As Silva recalled, the club later ran into serious financial problems and was ultimately forced to sell both him and David Villa.

That situation opened the door for Silva to move abroad, and he joined Manchester City in 2010 in a transfer that would define the most successful chapter of his club career.

Looking back, Silva described his move to City as the best decision he ever made. He went on to spend 10 remarkable years in England, becoming a club legend and a central figure in Man City’s rise to domestic dominance.

Despite that success, Silva acknowledged a lingering reality in Spanish football culture. He admitted that playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid brings a level of recognition in Spain that is difficult to match elsewhere, even for players who go on to become legends in their own right.

There is no doubt that a player of David Silva’s qualities would have even further improved the already historic Barcelona team of 2008 and onwards, even though that team was brimming with talent, and the midfielder would not have enjoyed as much spotlight as he did during his actual career.