‘I Know Exactly’—Bernardo Silva Lifts Lid on Next Chapter After Man City Contract Expires

Clubs across Europe were touted with serious interest in Bernardo Silva over the summer.
Bernardo Silva has been linked with a Man City exit.
Bernardo Silva has been linked with a Man City exit. / Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images

Bernardo Silva has revealed he knows exactly what the future holds when his Manchester City contract expires, but has admitted it’s “not the time to focus on it”.

There was intense speculation regarding Silva’s future over the summer, with the Portuguese linked to the likes of Juventus and former club Benfica before deciding to stay at the Etihad Stadium. He was even named Man City’s club captain before the season began.

However, discussions over the the 31-year-old’s future will resurface in the coming months given Silva’s contract expires next summer. He will be able to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs in January or will become a free agent in 2026 should he not pen an extension with City.

Speaking before City’s Champions League clash with Monaco—the club Silva departed to join City in 2017—the midfielder admitted to knowing what he will do after his current deal runs out at the Etihad.

Bernardo Silva
Silva remains crucial to City’s system. / IMAGO/NurPhoto

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“I know exactly what I'm going to do but it’s not the time to focus on it,” the Portugal international revealed.

“It’s to do my best, to put the club back to where it belongs. We’ve had a lot of captains who’ve left but it’s for the guys who have the most experience to pass it on to the young guys.”

Silva will make his 415th appearance for City in Lisbon and is destined to overtake Kevin De Bruyne’s tally of 422 appearances to become the club’s eighth-most capped player ever. He has won everything on offer with the Cityzens, including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League, and may yet add more trophies to his cabinet in what could be his last season with City.

Pep Guardiola waxed lyrical about his skipper during his pre-match media duties. enthusing: “He cannot do better as a captain. He is one of the best players ever in training, it is a luxury for me to have had him these ten years.

“He is intelligent, smart. I am really happy to have him and of course he accepts the role [as captain]. He is doing really well.”


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Ewan Ross-Murray
EWAN ROSS-MURRAY

Ewan Ross-Murray is a Sports Illustrated Soccer freelance writer who focuses primarily on the Premier League. Ewan was born in Leicester, but his heart, and club allegiance, belongs to Liverpool.