Man City make ultimatum to Bernardo Silva

Manchester City want to avoid at all costs the departure of Bernardo Silva. It's now or never for Guardiola's side. Saudi Arabia's claws are closing in on the Portuguese star, who received a very tempting offer last week. To prevent his departure, the Etihad team have launched a final offer. 

City, who cannot match the 85 million euros per season offered in Saudi football, have offered him a new improved proposal in an effort to try to convince him. According to the Times, this offer could be an ultimatum from Guardiola's side to the player. 

Bernardo Silva is under contract until 2025, and there is every reason to believe that City would rather renew him than put him on the market for a lucrative transfer fee. He is one of Guardiola's best weapons, as he proved last season when he played a key role in the team's historic treble. He started 24 of last season's 38 Premier League games.

In addition, his role in the Champions League was also outstanding, scoring in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. Guardiola confessed that he is a unique player: "Some players sometimes take a step backwards, but he takes a step forwards. He is irreplaceable in many ways for us," he explained at the end of the season. 

For City to let him go would be an unforgivable mistake. Just as Gündogan's departure can be made up for to some extent by the arrival of Kovacic, Bernardo Silva's profile is unique and irreplaceable. For the good of the Premier League and European football, the 'Cityzens' must pull out all the stops to keep him. 

A hasty farewell?

Bernardo Silva, at 28, is at the 'zenith' of his career. A move to Saudi Arabia would mean losing sight of him during his best years of football. Rúben Neves has already done so after swapping the Premier League for Al-Hilal at the age of 26, and his City compatriot could be next. 

Bernardo still has time to renew his contract with Manchester City and bin the tempting offer from Saudi Arabian football. Guardiola would be delighted with his continuity, and so would City fans. Everything is in his hands.