Manchester City snubbed the chance to sign Saul Niguez from Atletico Madrid, in exchange for Bernardo Silva heading the other way, reports The Daily Star. Saul eventually joined City’s rivals, Chelsea, on a one-year loan deal.
Snubbing Saul meant Silva was denied his wish to leave the club. According to several reports, and later confirmed by Pep Guardiola himself, the Portugal international wanted to cut his ties with the Citizens and return to Iberia. Guardiola said as much during the summer transfer window, claiming that Silva was among a few players looking for an opportunity to leave the club.
“He’s our player. Not just Bernardo, there are two or three players that want to leave but they are our players and when they bring some offer and they want to leave we are open to discuss but it depends on them,”
Guardiola said in an earlier interview.
“Otherwise, they will continue training really well, they will stay here and I will decide if they stay or don’t stay. The players who want to leave know the door is open because we don’t want anyone here unsatisfied but they have to bring someone.”
Eventually, that opportunity did not arrive. When it did, it wasn’t on terms City found acceptable. The Premier League champions were looking for a straight cash deal in the region of 40 million pounds, while Guardiola didn’t want to add Saul to his squad.
City’s “loss” is Chelsea’s gain. Saul completed a temporary move to London in the final hours of deadline day. The Spaniard will wear the number 17 for the current campaign, and the club holds the option to sign him permanently at the end of it.
