Man City star 'makes transfer decision' amid Barcelona and Atletico Madrid interest

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Evening Standard

·3 Juni 2026

Man City star 'makes transfer decision' amid Barcelona and Atletico Madrid interest

Midfielder is set to leave Etihad Stadium this summer

Bernardo Silva has decided that he will focus on the World Cup before picking his next club.

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The Manchester City captain will depart the Etihad Stadium after nine years at the club, playing 460 times and scoring 76 goals.

He moved to England in 2017 from Monaco, and quickly became one of Pep Guardiola’s most dependable players, operating in the centre of midfield or out wide.

He was an ever-present in the Premier League this term, as City were pipped to the Premier League title by Arsenal.

Silva, 31, captained the side to Carabao Cup and FA Cup triumphs, playing every minute of each final.

On the move: Bernardo Silva

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It was announced that Silva would leave City upon the expiration of his contract, which runs out this summer, and he has since been linked with a switch to Spain, to the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who hold a keen interest.

It was previously believed that the Portuguese would decide on his next destination ahead of this summer’s World Cup, where he will play for his country in Canada, Mexico and the United States, but now, Fabrizio Romano reports that Silva will wait until the tournament’s conclusion before picking where he goes next, according to his agent Jorge Mendes.

Silva will play a huge part in Roberto Martinez’s squad this summer, with Portugal up against the DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.

They will play their first two matches in Houston, Texas, before taking on Colombia in Miami, Florida in their final game of the group stage.