Bernardo Silva likely to join Atletico Madrid over Barcelona

FC Barcelona's bid for Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva appears to be collapsing, with Atletico Madrid now the favored destination. The race follows Barcelona's earlier pursuit of Julian Alvarez, which has already strained relations between the two clubs.

Inside Barcelona, a preliminary agreement with Silva had been reached and the player had accepted a salary reduction to facilitate the move. Deco and Hansi Flick were initially hesitant, but Silva's determination changed their stance.

Despite those steps, the deal is now unraveling and Atletico Madrid's option, once considered distant, is reported to be nearer to materialising than a move to the Camp Nou. Losing Silva to a direct La Liga rival would add to Barcelona's frustration.

Real Madrid also shows interest, with Jose Mourinho keen on Silva, but Atletico Madrid currently holds the advantage in the competition for the free agent.