Pep Lijnders, Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach at Manchester City, confirmed that Bernardo Silva will leave the English club when his contract expires at the end of the current season.
For months, it seemed unlikely that the Portuguese international would remain with City, after renewal talks between the two parties stalled. The 31-year-old was also linked with several major European clubs, most notably Juventus and Barcelona.
It was reported last week that Bernardo had already informed City of his decision to leave, but without an official announcement. Now, Lijnders has put an end to the speculation, confirming that the former Monaco player will be leaving the Etihad Stadium next season.
When asked about Bernardo Silva at a press conference, Lijnders said, “Every beautiful story has an end. You can never replace a player like him because there aren’t many players available on the market with the same abilities and potential as Bernardo. He is truly an exceptional and unique player.”
He added, “Look at the way he controls games, his movement, how he receives the ball, his leadership, and his vision. All of these things make him an exceptional player. It will be difficult.”
Bernardo has made 450 appearances for Manchester City since joining the English club in 2017 from Monaco, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists. He has won 18 trophies, most notably the Champions League once and the Premier League six times.
The player hopes for a perfect end to his career with the Sky Blues. After City’s Carabao Cup victory, they still have the opportunity to win two more domestic titles: the Premier League (currently second, nine points behind Arsenal) and the FA Cup (where they have reached the semi-finals and will face Southampton).
