Transfer Centre

Kylian Mbappe 'wants Paris Saint-Germain to sign Bernardo Silva this summer'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 27 January 2023

Mbappe 'wants PSG to sign Bernardo this summer'

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe urges his club to move for Manchester City's Bernardo Silva this summer, according to a report.

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe has reportedly urged his French club to move for Manchester City's Bernardo Silva during this summer's transfer window.

Bernardo has again been a key player for the Citizens during the 2022-23 campaign, making 29 appearances in all competitions, contributing two goals and five assists in the process.

However, the 28-year-old recently expressed a desire to leave the Etihad Stadium at some stage for "a new project".

"I'm very focused on this season and it doesn't make sense to talk about leaving because we're in the middle of the season," the Portugal international told Record. "I won't hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project.

"Going into a new project at the age of 29, I'll only finish this contract probably at 34.

Bernardo Silva in action for Manchester City on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

"If you ask me: what did you think 10 years ago? My goal was to return to Benfica at the age of 32 at the most. What do I think today? It depends on what happens next summer.

"I'm not going to lie, it's not something I don't think about. I think about it every year. It has always been a goal."

Bernardo is thought to be keen to leave Man City for personal reasons, as he wants to be closer to his family in Portugal, with Barcelona said to be long-term admirers.

However, the Catalan club's president Joan Laporta recently admitted that his side could not afford the attacker.

"Bernardo Silva for €80m (£70.8m) will surely not come... because we will not pay them," Laporta told Cadena SER.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in action with Manchester City's Bernardo Silva on January 14, 2023 © Reuters

PSG are also believed to be interested in the attacker, who has little over two years left to run on his contract with the reigning English champions.

According to The Sun, Mbappe is desperate for his club to bring Bernardo to Paris during this summer's transfer window.

The report claims that the France international has a close relationship with the Portuguese following their time together at Monaco.

Bernardo has been with the Citizens since 2017, making 280 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 50 goals and contributing 56 assists in the process.

Mbappe's own future in the French capital is far from secure, with the 24-year-old, who has scored 25 goals in 24 appearances at club level this term, again being linked with a switch to Real Madrid.