Bernardo Silva chooses Barcelona

Italian media reports indicate that Portuguese star Bernardo Silva is very close to joining Barcelona in the upcoming transfer window, in what could be one of the biggest deals of the season . According to Tuttosport, the player has reached advanced stages of negotiations with the Catalan club, with reports suggesting that a preliminary agreement between the two parties is nearly 80 % complete . Despite this progress, the official completion of the deal still hinges on the approval of coach Hansi Flick, in addition to Barcelona needing to make some changes in midfield by offloading several players to make room for Silva's arrival . Sources confirm that the Manchester City player is prepared to make a significant financial concession, reportedly accepting a pay cut of more than half his current salary to facilitate his move to Barcelona . Meanwhile, Juventus was among the top contenders to sign the player, but the Italian club has begun to withdraw from the race. Galatasaray also attempted to make a tempting offer, but Silva prefers to continue playing at the highest level of European football . Current indications suggest that Barcelona has become the most likely destination for the Portuguese star, pending a final decision in the coming period.