Barcelona defender João Cancelo has openly expressed his wish for his fellow Portuguese international, Bernardo Silva, to join either Barcelona or Benfica when his contract with Manchester City concludes in June. Silva, a key target for Juventus, is reportedly already in discussions with the Italian club about a potential move as a free agent at the end of the current season.
Sources across Europe indicate that the Manchester City captain has decided to leave the Premier League giants once his contract expires. Cancelo, currently on loan at Barcelona from Al-Hilal, shared his perspective on Silva’s future in a recent interview, stating, “I’d like to see him go to Barcelona or Benfica.” Cancelo himself arrived at Barcelona on loan during the January transfer window.
Reflecting on his own career trajectory and personal preferences, Cancelo further elaborated, “It’s hard to say no to Barcelona or Benfica.” He added, “I’d love to play for Benfica, but I don’t know whether it can happen soon. Luckily, I’ve reached a salary level that Benfica can’t match. I’m not going to play for free, but at some point in my career, I won’t want to earn that much.”
Comparing his feelings for the two clubs, Cancelo remarked, “Playing for Barcelona is like playing for Benfica; you do it out of love.” Discussing his own contractual situation, with his Barcelona loan ending in June and his contract with Al-Hilal extending until 2027, he stated, “I have a year left in my contract. If I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll do it. If I have to play in Europe, I’ll do it too. It depends on Al-Hilal. When Barcelona call, you can’t say no. I feel at home, and I’ve settled in well.” Cancelo was also previously linked with a move to Inter Milan before his current successful spell at Camp Nou.
