PSG
Bernardo Silva could replace Lionel Messi at PSG
The Manchester City player, who is looking for a new challenge, is PSG’s ideal candidate to replace Leo Messi in the summer.
It is sure to be a busy summer for PSG in terms of arrivals and departures. The club’s main objective, especially president Nasser Al Khelaifi’s, is to get rid of the stars and forge a competitive team that will avoid the disappointments of the last two years in Europe. In addition to a No 9, which could be Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, the Parisians could sign Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva as a replacement for Lionel Messi, as reported by Le Parisien.
The Argentinian, whose future will be decided at the end of the season, is looking increasingly likely to leave Paris. Luís Campos, PSG’s sporting adviser, considers Bernardo Silva as his ideal replacement. He is an undisputed starter for Pep Guardiola, with whom he could win a treble this year (Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League). He can also play as a winger and a midfielder and he knows Ligue 1 well.
Relationship with Mbappé
It was Campos, during his time at Monaco, who first spotted the Portuguese’s talent. He won Ligue 1 in 2017, before he signed for City and his partnership with Kylian Mbappé, with whom he could be reunited in Paris, was lethal at every level. They fell just short of reaching the Champions League final, losing out honourably to Juventus in the semi-finals.
A year ago, PSG enquired about Bernardo Silva and even went so far as to consider a swap deal with Neymar, who is now more open to leaving the French capital.
Messi’s future
With Messi’s almost certain departure, the Ligue 1 club will have more room for manoeuvre to make signings and should not find it difficult to enter into a bidding war for the City creator.
Barcelona are another team that have expressed interest in Bernardo Silva. Jorge Mendes, his agent, is close to Campos, so negotiations would not be an obstacle for PSG. At 28, the former Monaco player is considering leaving Manchester and, although his priority was LaLiga, France, a competition he knows inside out, in a team with aspirations and where he would be a starter, may not be ruled out.