- Noel Gallagher speaks about Bernardo Silva
- Addresses midfielder’s future
- Calls for captain to receive special honour
Noel Gallagher has waxed lyrical over Bernardo Silva, and has explained why he deserves a special tribute from Manchester City.
In an emotional and characteristically blunt interview, Gallagher has dropped an astonishing verdict on Bernardo Silva ahead of today’s massive FA Cup final showdown against Chelsea at Wembley.
The Oasis musician opened up about his deep admiration for the 31-year-old playmaker, who is expected to leave the club this summer after a stellar nine-year spell.
Silva, who has won every major honor available under Pep Guardiola, has reportedly given the club plenty of notice regarding his desire to seek a new challenge in the sun.
Noel Gallagher demands a statue for Silva
While club rules state a player typically needs a decade of service to qualify for a permanent statue outside the Etihad Stadium, Gallagher insisted he might start a “whip round” to get one built anyway.
In a BBC Radio 5 Live, the musician recalled his first-ever memory of the midfielder arriving at Manchester Airport in a pair of memorable pink shorts, cementing his status as an instant cult hero.
Forget all the trophies, getting called “a dude” by Noel Gallagher? Career peak achieved⛰️@NoelGallagher shared his love of Bernardo with @DFletcherSport, as well as the memory of those famous pink shorts🩷#BBCFootball #MCFC pic.twitter.com/Nj9IfNVCXX
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) May 16, 2026
Gallagher began by acknowledging the noise around his uncertain future as he said, “You can’t blame the lad. He’s been getting rained on for the last nine years. He wants to go and get some sun. Don’t we all?
“He’s one of us, and we adore him, and he’s right up there. He’s right up there with all the big ones for us. We love him.”
He added, “He gets a statue, though, surely… But I’ve got to say, I might start having a whip round. He should get a statue.
“He’s been astonishing. I’ve loved him since the minute he walked through Manchester Airport in a pair of pink shorts, dragging the suitcase. He was on his own. It’s one of the greatest pictures ever.
“Obviously, I’ve met him countless times, and he’s one of the nicest, loveliest,most friendly, engaging, warm, becoming lads you could ever meet in your life. He’s such a dude.”
Silva is an irreplaceable part of the Citizens’ DNA
From a fan’s perspective, Noel speaks for absolutely every single one of the Sky Blues’ fans when it comes to Bernardo.
He isn’t just a world-class footballer; he has been the literal heartbeat of Guardiola’s side during the most successful era in English football history.
His work rate, tactical intelligence, and sheer selflessness on the pitch have redefined what it means to be a modern City legend.
After all, he has missed only 9 games in 9 years. And just one red card in his career. That’s discipline despite being the ‘annoying’ player.
So, losing a player of his caliber is a massive bitter pill to swallow, especially when you realize he still has so much left to offer at 31.
FA Cup final holds the ultimate narrative
With kick-off just hours away at Wembley, all eyes will be on how Guardiola sets up his side to tackle Chelsea.
The boss has already made it clear that his focus is entirely on securing the FA Cup trophy, blocking out any noise regarding next week’s remaining Premier League fixtures or summer squad overhauls.
For Silva, today represents the perfect opportunity to sign off on his English football journey with yet another piece of silverware for his crowded cabinet.
He has featured in 47 games already this season, across competitions, and you can bet on him to start in this final.
Whether he gets that statue or not, a masterclass against Chelsea this afternoon would ensure that he walks off from his legacy on the blue side of Manchester with class.
