- Bernardo Silva announced his Man City exit last month
- Initially decided when he would leave two years ago
- Reveals how club wanted him to sign new contract
Manchester City supporters were recently informed of Bernardo Silva’s plans to leave this summer, but he actually made that decision a long time ago.
There has been a lot of speculation about Bernardo Silva’s future this season, with many fans hoping he would sign a new contract.
After all, the Portugal international is only 31, and has shown that he is still capable of playing at the highest level.
Despite this, Silva confirmed his Man City exit would come at the end of the campaign, once his contract expires.
However, it turns out his decision to leave the Citizens is not a recent development. In fact, the club have known about it for some time.
Bernardo Silva decided to leave Man City two years ago
Silva signed a contract extension after Man City’s treble winning season in 2023. In response, Pep Guardiola branded him the best player he has ever trained.
Despite this praise, it was not long afterwards that Silva put a timeline of when he would be bidding City farewell.
He told Canal 11: “It was a decision I made two years ago, that I would see out my contract and then we would go our separate ways. When I made the decision, I knew I wouldn’t change my mind.
“When I arrived, I never imagined I’d stay for nine years, that’s a long time at a club.
“The decision to leave was a natural one. It’s my last chance to take on another challenge in my life, to do something different,” Silva explained.
“Since I left, my family has been pulling me back. They know that nine years is a long time and, after everything I’ve achieved here, it made sense to do something different.”
Man City tried to convince Silva to stay
Losing a player like Silva is a tough pill to swallow, especially knowing he is going to be leaving as a free agent.
Man City did what they could to prevent this from happening, but the midfielder made it clear that he was not going to change his mind. And fast forward two years, he is still sticking to his original plan.
“They [City] gradually realised. And then they started joking that I was leaving but never actually would. They didn’t quite believe it. Rúben [Dias] and Matheus [Nunes] knew my decision wouldn’t change.
“I didn’t make a formal announcement, but I always said I’d see out my contract and then leave.”
Speaking about Guardiola’s decision to give him the captaincy last summer, Silva said: “Pep knew about my decision for some time now.
“When he asked me to be captain this season I told him that maybe it didn’t make much sense as it was my last year, I wasn’t going to stay; that he should choose another player that would remain at the club.
“He ended up making his decision, anyway.”
Silva’s choice to leave Man City is admirable
Very few players are as transparent as Silva has been towards Man City. For a while now, he has made it clear exactly when he planned to depart, and he has stuck by his word.
The 31-year-old could have kept the club guessing, but he has allowed them plenty of time to identify a suitable replacement.
It is no secret that City have been interested in Elliot Anderson for some time, and they will have been able to plot this potential move early due to Silva’s honesty.
The skipper has seen out his contract and professionally led the team this season, focusing only on the task at hand.
He has been a credit to Man City, and deserves the best wishes of every one of the club’s supporters as he looks to write a new chapter in his career.
