Gerard Pique's Barcelona retirement will free up enough funds for the Blaugrana to sign Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, according to a report.
The former Manchester United centre-back confirmed his imminent retirement on Thursday evening, and Saturday's clash with Almeria will be his last game in a Barca jersey.
Pique has only been a peripheral figure in the team under Xavi this season, with Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia all ahead of him in the centre-back pecking order.
The Spaniard's contract at Camp Nou still has just under two years left to run, but he has agreed to terminate his contract in a bid to alleviate the club's ongoing financial problems.
Barcelona have largely focused on the free agent market during their period of economic instability, although they did spend big to bring Kounde, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski to the club over the summer.
A move for Man City's Silva has been mooted for a while, with the Portugal international known to have been seeking an exit from the Etihad in the summer of 2021.
Silva ultimately remained with the Premier League champions, but according to Sport, Pique's exit means that Barcelona can now afford to bring him to Catalonia.
The report adds that Barcelona will attempt to strike a deal for the 28-year-old in January, but they would be fighting an uphill battle to convince Man City to sell in the middle of the season.
However, Barcelona's efforts are aided by the fact that Jorge Mendes has been trying to engineer a move for Silva for some time now, and the ex-Monaco man is determined to make the transfer happen.
Despite his public desire to end his stint with Man City, Silva has remained an integral cog in Pep Guardiola's system this term with two goals and five assists in 12 Premier League appearances.
The Portugal international, whom Xavi is understood to regard as an "absolutely differential" player, is still under contract at the Etihad until 2025, and he now has 50 goals and 56 assists in 270 appearances for the club since 2017.
Meanwhile, Pique will bring up his 616th appearance for Barcelona in his final match, and Xavi has paid an emotional tribute to his former teammate ahead of his farewell.
"I understand Pique's decision given the circumstances. I have been through it as well, and I wish him all the best. Barcelona fans also rate him as a legend of the club," Xavi said at his pre-game press conference.
"I was fortunate enough to be Pique's teammate. Difficult circumstances forced him to retire. I went through a similar situation and it was only natural for me to step down. Geri had a contract, and decided to leave it, which is a great gesture. He is a legend at the club, and deserves to be recognised as such.
"Pique's personality surprised me. The way he plays, his understanding of football. Even when I was with him, as a player at the age of 22-23, he was very brave, smarter than the rest. For me, he is one of the best defenders I've played with.
"And this is what Pique did, and then made his decision. But I am grateful to him, and I will always remember that he gives everything he has on the field."
Pique has recorded 53 goals and 15 assists during his trophy-laden stint at Barcelona, but he has made just five starts in all competitions so far this season. body check tags ::
