Owen Hargreaves has moved to explain how Bernardo Silva has progressed the game to be the perfect Pep Guardiola player.
The 27-year-old was heavily linked with a transfer away from Manchester City this summer, but has instead turned in a number of high-quality performances, leading Guardiola and his star-studded team to the Premier League summit after 17 games.
Silva was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan at half-time against Leeds United last night, though Guardiola clarified that decision as an injury 'precaution', which will come as welcome relief to City supporters.
Bernardo has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 appearances this season.
For the most-part he has been City's top performer — although the Portuguese sensation didn't have to provide one single goal contribution during the 7-0 demolition over Marcelo Bielsa's depleted side at the Etihad Stadium.
Kevin de Bruyne returned to form with a double as Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, John Stones and Nathan Ake also got in on the act in the thrashing of Leeds.
Speaking to BT Sport, pundit Hargreaves said: "If Mo Salah wasn't playing almost Michael Jordan-esque then that just tells you how great Bernardo Silva has been. Probably can play five positions as good as each other. I just think he's the perfect Pep player.
"In possession he's great, but he's the modern number 10 because number 10s back in the day — Mesut Ozil and Coutinho — took a lot of time off out of possession.
"Bernardo Silva presses the ball like Kante, that's how good he is. His finishing has been off the charts."
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