The 2023 summer transfer window brought a lot of stars into the limelight, and Bernardo Silva was no exception. The Portuguese superstar’s domestic future became a subject of discussion after being linked with a host of suitors, including Saudi clubs. But the player rejected it without any hesitation, as now he revealed the reason for snubbing his potential transfer to the Saudi Pro League.
Europe had already lost a lot of talent, and Silva was yet another one to go. However, his deal couldn’t be cultivated, and the reasons were finally revealed by the star.
Bernardo Silva opens up on Saudi Pro League move
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A lot of players were on the radar of Saudi Arabia, and Bernardo Silva was no exception. The Manchester City star became a center of attraction in the summer transfer window as many touted him to leave Europe and join the exodus. However, the player didn’t accept the mammoth oil money and has now recently disclosed the rationale behind rejecting it.
While speaking with RTP, he said, “I would lie if I said I didn’t think (about the big-money offers from Saudi Arabia). What interested me was the heat of playing a UEFA Champions League semi-final, listening to the (Etihad) stadium going wild after scoring against (Real) Madrid in the semi-finals or when we won the final against Inter. I didn’t want to give up on that.”
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It’s clear that, despite receiving tempting financial offers, he chose to decline them. Perhaps his decision stemmed from his reluctance to forego the emotional thrill of last year’s Champions League success that he relished under Pep Guardiola. Notably, Barcelona was also linked with his potential transfer, but it collapsed for its own reasons.
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