After almost a decade in Manchester, winning six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League trophy, Bernardo Silva has confirmed he will leave at the end of the season.
There will be no shortage of interest from clubs in signing the Portuguese playmaker, as one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted players has proven his ability to continue to play consistently at the top level.
Consistency is key for Silva too – he has missed just nine matches in as many years at Man City and racked up an incredible 453 appearances for the club, the most of any player since 2000.
But as his time in Man City blue draws towards the end, which teams are in the race to acquire his services?
Transfer News Blitz writer Gabriel Mills takes a look at some clubs likely to sign him this summer.
Barcelona
It’s reported that the Catalan club are long-term admirers of Silva and, after nine years under Guardiola, he might just fit Barcelona like a glove.
La Liga’s leaders have some of the brightest young talents in world football with the likes of Pedri, Gavi, Yamal and Fermin Lopez.
Silva could add a different and much-needed dynamic in the heart of midfield with his experience and winning mentality.
Barcelona have gone a decade without winning the Champions League – Silva could be the missing cog for Hansi Flick’s side on Europe’s top stage.
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Juventus
It was reported that the Italian giants are ready to table a formal offer for Silva in an attempt to win the race to sign him.
With the 31-year-old entering into the final stages of his career, the slower-paced Serie A could be the perfect place for him to move his career onto.
Juventus sit in fourth place, five points clear of fifth, attempting to hold on to the final Champions League position.
With Silva’s desire to maintain playing at the highest level, it’s possible this hinges on qualification to the top tier of European competition.
Arsenal
The most eyebrow-raising of the clubs on this list – Arsenal are said to be monitoring Bernardo Silva’s situation at their title rivals, Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta is already well acquainted with the Portuguese after the Arsenal head coach was assistant to Guardiola in Manchester from 2016-2019.
Arsenal’s lack of proven winners with the mentality to match has been highlighted in recent weeks. Silva epitomises those qualities and would undoubtedly be brilliant in North London.
Whether he would move to Manchester City’s fierce title rivals is another question, however.
Benfica
There’s nothing quite like the romance of a homecoming transfer at the end of a career.
Silva is one of Benfica’s greatest ever exports but the Eagles possibly lack the same high-level football that some of the other clubs can offer.
There is no denying the pull of Benfica as the Man City man’s boyhood club – so it’s important not to rule them out.
MLS
A move to America wouldn’t give Silva his desired high-level football – but there’s no getting away from the other factors that could tempt him.
It’s likely that clubs in the MLS could offer the most lucrative contracts compared to those listed above as Silva could join the likes of David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi as a top player to spend latter parts of his career in the US.
Silva ends his time at Man City as an all-time great, along with Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva.
Whichever club signs him will have a fantastic player on their hands.
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