- Scholes full of praise for Bernardo Silva
- Highlights Man City captain’s key attributes
- Labels him ‘brilliant’
Bernardo Silva has been the recipient of praise from Paul Scholes after an impressive performance against Arsenal.
Questions have been raised about Bernardo Silva’s position in the first-team at Manchester City, when players such as Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez rarely get chances to start.
Some supporters feel as though the midfielder has not been at his best this season, and he certainly did not help himself by being sent off against Real Madrid.
However, the club captain delivered a strong performance on Sunday, particularly in the second half. His energy and workrate proved key, as City recorded a narrow 2-1 victory.
Paul Scholes impressed by Bernardo Silva
Gary Neville drew comparisons between Silva and Paul Scholes after Man City’s win over Arsenal, and now Scholes himself has weighed in on the Portuguese maestro.
The retired midfielder is amazed by Silva as despite his lack of height, he manages to control matches.
🗣️ "You look at him and think… 'How can you play in the Premier League?!'" 🤯
— The Good, The Bad & The Football (@goodbadftblpod) April 21, 2026
Bernardo Silva. What a player. pic.twitter.com/20gO9vIWmS
Scholes told The Good, the Bad and the Football: “Talking about big game players, I think he’s done it for years and years now and yesterday [Sunday], again, taking a game by the scruff of the neck.
“You look at him and you think, ‘how can you play in the Premier League’? He’s probably about nine stone, he’s tiny. But what he does, he controls games, it’s just brilliant.
“In big teams like that, you need the ultimate team players. What he does for that team is incredible.”
Silva is still a key player at Man City
Many of Man City’s star players have moved on in recent years, and Bernardo Silva will join them in exiting the club at the end of the season.
However, the 31-year-old is still playing at a level where he would remain a first-team starter under Pep Guardiola.
Therefore, it is highly likely he would have been offered a new contract, had he chosen to stay in Manchester.
Still, Silva has won everything there is to win at City, lifting 19 trophies to date across his nine seasons at the club.
Europe is still an option for Silva
It is important to remember that Silva will still only be 32 at the start of next season, meaning plenty of top European teams will be interested in signing him up.
As both a top class player and a leader, Silva has a lot to offer and to have the opportunity of signing him as a free agent is quite the deal.
The Portugal international could ultimately decide to leave the continent altogether and pursue a move to the Saudi Pro League or MLS.
Nevertheless, if he decides to move to one of Europe’s other top five leagues, there should be clubs lining up to secure his signature.
