Could Man City’s David Silva emerge as Barca target?

This incredible generation of Spanish footballers is currently overflowing with midfield talent, but even amongst the big names of Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas at Barcelona, not to mention Real Madrid lynchpin Xabi Alonso, Manchester City’s David Silva definitely stands out as a star player of immense ability.

Considering the players he’s up against, Silva has done well to be capped 50 times for Spain, since breaking onto the scene at his old club Valencia in 2006. Originally playing as a winger, this has helped him find a position in the all-conquering Spanish national side, but even then he has been up against the likes of Jesus Navas, Pedro Rodriguez, Santi Cazorla and, more recently, another former Valencia star Juan Mata.

Perhaps due to being one of so many talented Spanish midfielders, he perhaps somewhat slipped under the radar of the big two in La Liga, as well as many other big clubs in Europe, and ended up being part of the Man City revolution, joining Roberto Mancini’s side at the start of last season.

Silva did not have too much trouble settling in, providing six goals and fifteen assists in his debut season, helping the Sky Blues to a 3rd place finish in the Premier League, assuring a much-coveted Champions League place for the club, as well ending City’s long wait for silverware by helping the side to win the FA Cup.

This season, with more new signings and in a more attack-minded system, Silva is showing himself to be perhaps the best midfielder in the Premier League, with close control and a range of passing that simply cannot be matched on these shores since the exit from Arsenal of Cesc Fabregas. It surely won’t be long before Silva has his hands on bigger and better trophies at the Etihad Stadium.

And then what? Would a return home be so out of the question? We have all known for a while of Cesc Fabregas’ desire to eventually return to his hometown club (no doubt helped by the fact that they are the best club side in the world at the moment), and while I cannot claim to know if Silva was a boyhood Barca fan, it cannot be questioned that while for young players from England the pinnacle is Manchester United, for Spanish footballers the ultimate dream is either Real Madrid or Barcelona, the country’s biggest clubs by far. And with Barcelona’s recent preference for homegrown talents, and even the likes of Andres Iniesta and David Villa who are not Catalan, it is not so crazy to think that they might look to Silva when Xavi slows down and perhaps retires sometime in the next few years. When I watch the Man City man at the moment, I see a player playing the Barcelona way and who would certainly challenge for a place in the world’s best club side even now. Playing a similar style to Barca with these guys for the national team will no doubt help him there.

So as his reputation grows, I foresee some more Cesc-like tapping up from Barca for a player who they would be mad to miss out on.

Mark Brus