Javier Mascherano said he hoped Claudio Bravo would remain at Barcelona but would respect any decision by the Chile captain to leave the Nou Camp.
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Bravo is said to have a release clause of £36 million (R626 million), but Guardiola and City apparently think they can get their target at a cheaper price, with the Spanish club able to call on back-up keeper and Germany worldwide Marc-Andre ter Stegen as his replacement.
But his potential move to the Etihad Stadium is now on hold due to a knee injury sustained by fellow Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the Germany worldwide likely to be out for at least three weeks. “He is an important part of this team”. “The ideal thing for us is to have both players continue”.
City was knocked back by Barcelona a couple of weeks ago when they put in a bid for Marc-André ter Stegen (they were told to come back with the player’s buy-out – a not-insubstantial 80 million euros); and now they will go for Ter Stegen’s team mate, Claudio Bravo.
Mascherano also said he, too, had considered leaving Barcelona before signing a new contract extension last month that will keep him at the club for the next three years.
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Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, City are close to securing a move for the Blaugrana’s Claudio Bravo, who is reportedly a target of Guardiola’s due to how comfortable he is with the ball at his feet. “I had doubts on whether I could still play in such a demanding club as Barcelona is”.
