Bernardo Silva told his friend Joao Cancelo Manchester City is an amazing place to be before the Portuguese decided to join the Premier League champions.
City announced the right back as their third summer signing on Wednesday in a deal worth 65million Euro (£60m) with full-back Danilo going in the opposite direction in a separate deal.
Silva and Cancelo were team-mates at Benfica, where they progressed through the academy together to make their senior debuts in the same season and have remained close ever since and the pair had a chat before Cancelo agreed to sign.
"We've talked several times before and he's said it's an amazing place to be," he said. "Their style is very good and it's an ideal place for me to develop."
“He is a player I admire a lot,” he added.
“If I remember rightly, Bernardo and I played in the same team for around eight years. We were together at Benfica, so we were together for a while. It will help me and I’m very excited to play with him.”
The 25-year-old also made friends with Cristiano Ronaldo whilst at Juventus and was asked if the former Manchester United man had any advice for him ahead of his move to City.
"I've got a friend there in Cristiano," he said. "He helped me there both personally and on the pitch, he's an extraordinary person, for me he's the best, I'll stay in touch.
"We talk and are good friends, but I thought the best for me was to join City as I think I am suited to it here."
