Xavi is a big admirer of Bernardo Silva and no one at Barcelona doubts the Manchester City midfielder's quality. But if he ends up signing for Barca the transfer will have as much to do with finances as football.
Barcelona are still emerging from the financial quagmire of years of mismanagement and €500million (£417m) of revenue lost to the pandemic. They have sold off various assets but they now need to convince LaLiga that they have increased revenue sufficiently to be allowed to register all their new signings.
Club president Joan Laporta referenced this cloud of doubt hanging over the club on Monday when they presented Jules Kounde.