Raging Pep Guardiola launches blistering attack on Barcelona over Bernardo Silva approach

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has gone in both barrels on former club Barcelona over their ongoing efforts to lure Bernardo Silva to the Nou Camp.

The Portuguese star has been the subject of heavy speculation at Barcelona for almost 12 months. And although Guardiola managed to fend off the Catalan giants last year, they are still looking for a transfer for the 28-year-old star.

In fact, According to the TEAMtalk revealed earlier this week that Barcelona are refusing to succumb to Silva’s spirit despite financial woes clouding their chances.

City value Silva at around £75m-80malthoughthey have noplanstopartways with the 90-goal star. Afterlosing Riyad Mahrez inthe summer, Guardiola and company are hoping to show their commitment to keeping Silva by offering him a payrise at Etihad.

However, the midfield championsare yet to sign and City still have the painful feeling that Silva is desperate to join the Spanish champions. However, Barcelona haven’t made any formal offers for Silva yet despite continued interest.

And while he has refrained from accusing them of wiretapping, Guardiola is not happy with his ex-club’s attempts to snatch Silva away from them. “I don’t want players who don’t want to stay here. I want to work with people who want to stay.”

“But we need theright offer, we didn’twantthat… If you want it, get on a plane and talk to our athleticdirector… “For us it costs £10m to £15m more to buy one more player than other clubs, that’s always the case.

And those same guys, if they Ifwe want our players, really important players, they have to make an offer first— and that didn’t happen… “With Bernardo and Kyle [Walker]we’ve been in the last few months ,if not years spoken many times about how important they are to us, how much we want them and will continue to do soto the end. “Idon’t know whatwill happen, but it won’t happen unless both clubs come.”

Guardiola hopes to soon welcome Gvardiol to Man City

It all sets up what is likely to be a frantic last month of the window for Guardiola and City, who also have plenty of other incomings and outgoings to finalise.

The club are also likely to see Kyle Walker depart this summer as he nears a move to Bayern Munich.

However, reinforcements are set to arrive in the form of RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol in what could set a new world-record mark for a defender.

In addition, the City boss is also reportedly exploring a possible raid on Bayer Leverkusen for attacking midfielder Florian Wertz, as a possible replacement for the departed Ilkay Gundogan.

Guardiola, who is preparing his side for Sunday’s Community Shield clash against Arsenal at Wembley, has confirmed the imminent arrival of the Croatian.

“Regarding Gvardiol – what a beautiful surname he has – he’s doing a medical test.

“Everybody knows he’s here, and hopefully we can finish the deal in the next hours, the next days.”

Put to Guardiola that Gvardiol’s signing will give him six central defensive options, he explained: “The season is so long, there is many, many games. (It is) absolutely not (too many).”

When asked if, after Gvardiol, City would be done in the transfer marker, Guardiola teased his reply.

“I don’t know. I think it is going to move, something. Not yet,” he concluded with a smile.