Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has reportedly confirmed to club officials that he will leave at the end of this season.
It has been suspected that the 31-year-old could leave for the past couple of seasons, but with his contract expiring at the end of this term, it seems his departure is now near, according to a report from TEAMtalk.
He joined City just under a decade ago from Monaco, and has gone on to win an incredible six league titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups and, most memorably, the club’s first-ever Champions League title, as part of their Treble season in 2022/23.
Bernardo Silva confirms departure with big Manchester City summer planned
It will make for an emotional exit, which is coming soon as CaughtOffside revealed that the player has formally told City he is leaving.
He’s said to be on the hunt for a new challenge, with various options being considered by the Portugal international and his agents.
The report goes on to state that Silva has interest from the MLS, Saudi Arabia and Europe, but there is, as yet, not clear frontrunner in the race.
TEAMtalk add that fellow Treble winner Rodri may also be on his way out, with a move to Real Madrid on the cards after he said he wouldn’t be able to turn down an offer from the La Liga side.
Should the pair leave this summer, it will be difficult to replace them both on the pitch and in the dressing room, with Silva being City’s captain this season – not to mention the up-in-the-air future of Pep Guardiola.
Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is City’s main target, TEAMtalk report, with a £100m price tag being floated and the similarly expensive Sandro Tonali also on their list.
Much will depend on the exact make-up of the outgoings at the Etihad, but it looks like a turbulent summer ahead for City.
In FourFourTwo’s opinion, while Silva’s exit will be an emotional one, it is probably the right time.
It’s difficult letting go of players who were so pivotal in some of the best years of the club’s history, but there has been a tired streak to City over the past 18 months.
In all honesty, they’ve probably left the full rebuild a little too late, made no easier by the uncertain future of Guardiola, but there is no time to start like the present, and waving an emotional goodbye to players like Silva is a good place to begin.
Silva is valued at €27m, according to Transfermarkt.
