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Wednesday, 31st July, 2013



Atletico Mineiro have accepted an offer from Shakhtar Donetsk for in-demand winger Bernard, but the player is not at all sure that he wants to move to the Ukraine.

Bernard is at the centre of a fast-moving summer transfer saga, with suitors including Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and FC Porto.







Arsenal are thought to have had a bid of €16m rejected recently for the 20-year-old, while Porto only yesterday were credited with having come to an agreement to buy 50% of Bernard’s sporting rights.

However, Atletico Mineiro have slapped a €25m asking price on the player and, while the club’s president has not revealed if Shakhtar Donetsk have met this sum, he has accepted the figure on offer from the Miners.



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But if Bernard does not wish to go, for president Alexandre Kalil, that is no problem.

"To Shakhtar we said yes, it [the bid] is worth what we want and he can go if he wants", Kalil was quoted as saying by UOL Esporte.

"It just depends on Bernard whether he accepts. There is a good chance [Wednesday against Atletico-PR] is his last game.

"If he does not want to go to the Ukraine, there will be no pressure to convince the player.

"It is in his hands. I have talked with him and it is his own private matter. With Atletico it is practically done. But if he does not want to go then we will not force him."

And Bernard himself is clear that the president informed him there are two offers on the table at present, with the other active bid from Porto.

Now he will have a think.

"I had a meeting with him and it is between the two", Bernard said.

"There is no hurry. I am very happy here. Everything has its right time, God makes things perfect."

Bernard would be surrounded by countrymen if he did make the move to Shakhtar Donetsk. However, it is not clear that the winger has yet decided the Ukraine suits him.

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