Bernardo Silva sent a come-and-get-me text to Barcelona officials after urging them to sign him when they visited England in late 2021, according to a report.
Barca held successful talks with City over Ferran Torres in late November and December, when Portugal playmaker Bernardo is said to have taken an opportunity to alert them to his 'dream' of playing for the Catalan giants.
Visiting executives thought the 27-year-old was joking until one of them later received a message from him telling them to explore the move, Mundo Deportivo has claimed.