Man City assistant manager Pep Lijnders has spoken about the future of Bernardo Silva, who is nearing the end of his contract.
Bernardo Silva is set to leave Manchester City (Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires this summer, assistant manager Pep Lijnders has confirmed. This marks the end of nine years at the Etihad Stadium.
Silva admitted in October that he had made a decision about his future, but in his eyes it was not the right time to make an announcement. There has been no official statement from the club or player, but Lijnders’ comments have almost confirmed his departure.
The midfielder wore the captain’s armband and played the full 90 minutes in City’s impressive 4-0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday. He hopes to help the club beat Southampton in the competition’s semi-finals later this month.
After the match, Lijnders said of Silva: “You will never replace him with the same type of player just because he doesn’t exist. Bernardo Silva is unique.”
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“The way he controls the game, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees solutions, all of that.
“We never look to replace a certain type of player, we look for what is needed to grow with the team and the right players to be in the starting eleven.
“And together with our academy and the young players we have already signed, we hope they can take that step forward in midfield positions as well.
“If you look at the young players that are in the academy, they have to step up and develop. But the most important thing is that the seniors stay for a long time, they stay, they stay and they stay. They are always there and you can move around them.”
Bernardo Silva has been a key player for Man City for the past nine seasons (Image: Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images)
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“But it’s going to be difficult because, like I said, during the games, when he’s not playing, you’ll see how much he’s missed and that’s one game. Imagine one season.
“But all good stories come to an end. I hope he enjoys the last few months – he only has six weeks – and has a good farewell. He deserves all the attention he gets.”
Academy product Nico O’Reilly has already been talked about as a potential replacement for the team. The 21-year-old played at left-back against Liverpool, but can also play in midfield.
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The youngster was a hero in last month’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, scoring both goals in a 2-0 win for Mikel Arteta’s side.
As it stands, barring a late change of heart, Silva will leave City in the summer after helping them win one Champions League, six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and five League Cups. He could add another FA Cup and Premier League title before leaving the club.
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