Pep Guardiola hinted that David Silva might still have one last major role to play for Manchester City in lifting the Champions League.
But the Blues boss ruled out trying to persuade the 34-year-old to re-think his decision to leave at the end of this season.
Silva only played the final ten minutes of the last-16 win over Real Madrid last Friday night, a victory which secured their place in the last-eight tournament being held in Lisbon.
City face Lyon tomorrow night, and Silva has a good chance of replacing Ilkay Gundogan in the team, with City intent on being on the front foot to line up a semi-final against either Bayern Munich or Barcelona.
Silva announced last summer that this would be his final campaign, although he extended his contract to allow him to take part in the delayed Champions League finale.
Silva was in fine form towards the end of the Premier League season, leading to speculation that City might try to persuade him to give it one more year.
They won't do that, but Guardiola has been hugely impressed with the way the veteran midfield star has attacked training in Lisbon this week.
“Absolutely he is ready,” said Guardiola when asked about Silva, seen by many to be the club’s greatest-ever player.
“The way he has trained and the mentality in his training, I am really impressed about his personality.
Have your say in our Man City end-of-season survey:
“All of us know it was a pity that his last games in the Etihad were without people but he’ll be back. We have said it many times, he will be back – when the crowd and the people are back in the stadium – and he will get what he deserves.”
Lazio have headed up the list of clubs chasing Silva’s services, but City have not attempted to change his mind.
Said Guardiola: “He decided from the beginning of the season to move on. It’s like I said a couple of days ago – he has stayed one decade here and now it is time for a new experience.”
