Barcelona monitoring soon-to-be-free Man City veteran even as Juventus prepare offer

Barcelona have not closed the door on a move for long-term target Bernardo Silva, even as Juventus accelerate plans to secure the Manchester City midfielder on a free transfer this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

The Catalan giants first identified the Portuguese international as a priority during Xavi Hernández’s tenure, and although the coaching change to Hansi Flick in 2024 appeared to cool their interest, club scouts continue to track the 31-year-old’s situation with only months remaining on his Etihad contract.

Silva, whose deal expires in June, is expected to leave England after a trophy-laden spell. Juventus have since emerged as frontrunners: the Turin club’s hierarchy has monitored him for several windows and is now ready to table an enticing proposal to lure him to Serie A on a Bosman transfer.

Competition is intensifying. Beyond Juventus, Barcelona maintain a watching brief, while Benfica—Silva’s former club—hope to tempt him back to Lisbon. Additionally, lucrative packages from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer have surfaced, offering the playmaker a fresh challenge in a new market.

Sources close to the player indicate he views Juventus positively, yet he is in no rush to commit. Silva intends to weigh all options before selecting what will likely be one of the last marquee contracts of his career, with a final decision unlikely before late April.

For Barcelona, signing a talent of Silva’s calibre without a transfer fee would represent exceptional value, though squad planning under Flick currently prioritises other areas, leaving any potential swoop contingent on future developments.