PEP GUARDIOLA warned Barcelona to make a proper offer if they want to sign Bernardo Silva.
Portuguese ace Silva is keen on quitting Manchester City to join the Spanish giants — but the Treble winners are yet to receive any proposal.
Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva has been linked with Barcelona
Etihad chief Pep Guardiola doesn’t want to stand in the way of a player who wants a ‘new experience’ but would demand a decent fee for Bernardo
If Silva wants to leave and City’s estimated £80 million worth is satisfied, manager Guardiola will not stand in his way.
However, Pep emphasized that there is NO gentleman’s agreement allowing the 28-year-old attacker to leave the club.
The Etihad boss said: “I want to clarify this as I know reports in Barcelona make up what I say. I don’t want any players who don’t want to be here.
“I want to work with guys who want to stay and work with us.
“Some players feel they want a new experience. I will not be the guy who says ‘no’ — but they have to make an agreement with the club.
“Make a deal and it happens. But we have to get a proper offer.
“If we don’t get a proper offer, he’s our player and we want him.
“If they want him, they will come here and talk to our sporting director and CEO to make a deal.”
Meanwhile, Kyle Walker, a 33-year-old defender, is also rumored to be interested in leaving Manchester City for Bayern Munich.
But as of yet this summer, the German club has not offered an acceptable offer.
Guardiola is aware that replacing the pair would be extremely expensive and that asking prices would almost certainly increase.
He added: “In the case of Bernardo and Kyle, we talk many times over how important they are.
“When we lose those players, we have to go to the market for the replacements and these cost more than £50m.”
Declan Rice snubbed City to join tomorrow’s Community Shield opponents Arsenal for £105m.
Guardiola added: “He decided on Arsenal — so all the best. He’s an important player, a very nice guy. For Arsenal, what an incredible player.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola has reappointed Juanma Lillo as his assistant boss, 12 months after he quit to take a job in Qatar.