Erling Haaland admits ‘difficulty’ in paying tribute to Bernardo Silva after confirmed Man City exit | OneFootball

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has paid tribute to his teammate Bernardo Silva, after he confirmed he would be leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

The emotional announcement came on Thursday, with Silva taking to social media to confirm his nine-year tenure in Manchester will conclude this summer.

The 31-year-old Portuguese international has arguably been the heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s side since 2017, most recently captaining the club to their latest piece of silverware in the 2026 Carabao Cup.

His departure marks the end of an era for the ‘Centurions’ generation, leaving the club to navigate a significant leadership transition under the guidance of new sporting director Hugo Viana, and possibly even a new head coach.

With the squad currently preparing for a pivotal Premier League showdown against Arsenal on Sunday, the news has added a layer of poignancy to the title race.

City currently sit six points behind the Gunners with a game in hand, and the squad will be determined to ensure their captain departs with a seventh league winner’s medal.

Haaland breaks down Bernardo’s unique genius

Speaking to Sky Sports News following Bernardo Silva’s statement on social media, Erling Haaland said of the current Manchester City captain, “He’s probably the smartest player I’ve ever played with because of the way he controls a game.”

The Norwegian striker continued, “To talk about his City career in the last nine years, it’s been crazy.

“He has six Premier Leagues – look at this trophies – he won the Champions League, look how important he was for us in the Treble season, scored against Bayern [Munich], two [goals] against [Real] Madrid.

“It’s difficult to find words because he’s been such an important figure for this club for the last nine years. He’s been shaping the club with the way he’s been on the pitch and off the pitch.”

A legacy that shaped a decade

Erling Haaland’s reference to the 2023 Treble season serves as a particular reminder of Bernardo’s big game pedigree, particularly his iconic brace against Real Madrid that propelled Manchester City to European glory.

In the current 2025/26 campaign, Silva has remained indispensable, taking his club total up to 451 appearances and taking on a significant role in terms of in-game possessional control, even as rumours of his exit intensified.

His ability to bridge the gap between the veteran core and younger, new stars like Rayan Cherki has been cited as a primary reason for Manchester City’s resurgence this spring.

Speculation regarding Bernardo Silva’s next destination is already rife, with Barcelona and Benfica both reportedly names to consider. However, before any farewell ceremonies, Manchester City face a gruelling schedule that includes an FA Cup semi-final against Southampton at Wembley.

With the chance to secure a domestic double and potentially treble still very much alive, Erling Haaland and his teammates will certainly be focused on delivering a perfect finish for a man who has helped shape the modern identity of Manchester City.