Throughout the summer transfer window, Real Madrid has pursued many of the same targets as Barcelona, including Denzel Dumfries, Julián Álvarez, and Marc Cucurella.
The most notable case was Bernardo Silva, who was reportedly close to an agreement with Barcelona but ultimately committed to Real Madrid.
Spanish media report that Silva’s decision was influenced not only by the guarantee of playing time offered by Madrid but also by financial factors. The Portuguese star allegedly demanded a €20 million annual salary, a €10 million commission split between his agent Jorge Mendes and his father, and an additional €10 million signing bonus.
Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have publicly denied meeting these demands, which led Silva to join the club willing to pay—Real Madrid.
While Silva would have been a valuable backup midfielder and right-wing option for Barcelona, the club decided not to stretch financially for a player who was not a priority, especially given their strong midfield options including Pedri, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, and Fermin López. Gavi’s return from injury further boosts that department.
With the Silva situation resolved, Barcelona can now concentrate on reinforcing key areas such as central forward and central defense.
