'I leave as one more of you' - but how do Man City replace departing Silva?
Manchester City will lose the services of their dependable captain next season after Bernardo Silva announced he will leave the club when his contract expires this summer. While manager Pep Guardiola has led the club to an unprecedented period of success during his 10-year tenure, midfielder Silva - his most trusted lieutenant - has been beside him every step of the way. "My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys [the fans] could feel proud and well represented on the pitch," said the 31-year-old Portugal international.
"I hope you felt that every single game. "I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. " When the skipper climbed the steps at Wembley Stadium following City's brilliant Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal last month, it was the 19th piece of silverware he had lifted since joining the club from Monaco in 2017.
Silva could end his time at City by collecting another domestic treble, with the side still in contention for the Premier League and facing Southampton in the FA Cup semi-finals next Saturday. He may not quite have the standing of past City icons such as Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany or David Silva, but his achievements will undoubtedly sit alongside theirs when he does make his exit from Etihad Stadium this summer. Guardiola, a great generation, and dogs called John and Charles There is a clear understanding and mutual respect between Guardiola and Silva, and one of the key reasons why he was handed the armband at the start of this season following the departure of De Bruyne on a free transfer.
Guardiola professed his "love" for Silva earlier this season, saying he had a "weakness" for the player and enthusing how he was "always there" - even during the lows of last season when the team finished third in the Premier League and failed to win a major trophy for the first time in nearly a decade. Silva told BBC Sport in December that Guardiola has been a "massive" influence on his career and his boss has a "special affection for me" having played under him for nine years and enjoyed a trophy-laden era. The Portuguese has player 451 matches in all competitions for City to sit inside the club's all-time top 10 appearance makers, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists.
All of those games have come under Guardiola - no player has been selected more times by the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager. Silva has managed only three goals and five assists this season, but has played in more Premier League games than any other City player and it is his leadership qualities and reliability that Guardiola rates so highly. He has clocked up a team-high 315.