Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester Cty in the summer after nine glorious years at the Etihad Stadium.
11:45, 06 Apr 2026
No one is irreplaceable. And no club appreciates that more than Manchester City.
In the last decade, City have seen the likes of Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne all ride off into the sunset. Legends one and all. Deserving of statues outside the Etihad. But success has continued to come in their absence.
And no doubt trophies will continue to be collected whenever Bernardo Silva decides to leave the club. Assistant manager Pep Lijnders said Silva will depart City this summer in his post-Liverpool press conference.
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Numerous clubs are monitoring the situation closely, including Barcelona, Juventus and several in both Saudi Arabia and the MLS. There is a simple reason for this: Silva remains at the top of his game.
Despite approaching his 32nd birthday, the Portuguese midfielder is still one of the most consistent footballers of his generation. A player small in stature with a gigantic amount of talent, energy and appetite to continue succeeding at the highest level.
In recent times, Silva has become Pep Guardiola’s lieutenant both on and off the field. In the past nine seasons, no one has been picked more times by Guardiola than Silva.
This weekend’s trip to Chelsea will be Silva’s 450th game in all competitions, all of which have come under the Catalan. He is the bloke Guardiola trusts more than anyone else, which might just be the biggest compliment a footballer can be paid.
When games appear to be lost, Silva makes something happen. When Guardiola needs some inspiration, he relies on Silva. A player whose infectious influence on those around him cannot be measured.
A footballer who can operate to maximum levels in different positions, someone with a relentless work rate to match his abilities on the ball and off it. He is an extension of Guardiola on the pitch. Someone who thinks, speaks and acts like his manager. An undroppable presence at this crucial stage of the season.
Guardiola has never hidden his admiration for Silva. “He doesn’t score too many goals or is not involved in all the assists, but he gives us something that is not in the stats, and a lot of things that are incredibly valuable to us. He is absolutely one of the best players I have ever trained in my career,” said the City boss of his captain.
With or without Guardiola next season, City will plough ahead with a deal to sign Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson this summer. Anderson has emerged as one of the brightest midfield talents in Europe. But filling the sizeable boots of Silva will be the ultimate test of his burgeoning reputation.
Yet this is what clubs like City have to do.
Teams evolve – and there will be life after Silva. Replacing him will be tough. No doubt. But not half as difficult as replacing the manager who coached Silva into becoming one of the most influential footballers in Premier League history.
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