Brazilian midfield star Bernard was last summer strongly linked with a move to either Tottenham or Arsenal with the 21-year-old saying that it was the financial crisis in Europe that saw him in the end move to Shakhtar Donetsk for £22 million.
“We had offers from Tottenham and, according to my Atletico president, Arsenal were interested too – but didn’t have the money,” Bernard told FourFourTwo magazine.
“All of it happened in a moment in which Europe was facing a serious financial crisis, so while there was interest from various teams, the only one able to pay straight away was Shakhtar.”
The current talk is that Manchester City would interested in signing him for £30 million if he can get out of his current contract with Shakhtar.
Bernard however is insisting that he is fully focused on the World Cup and will rely on his representatives to sort out his future.
“I made it clear since I arrived [to join the national team] that I won’t comment about the possibility of a transfer as I am focused on the World Cup,” he told Superesportes.
“It’s a unique moment in the career of a player, I want to mature and learn a lot here with my more experienced team-mates.
“I leave my off the field situation to be handled by those who have the right to do so without me.
“I don’t know [what will happen] after the World Cup, I have people to handle the off the field things.”
Reports in Brazil are saying that Bernard’s agents are using the political unrest in Ukraine as a way to cancel his contract with East Ukrainian club.
