Juventus monitoring Bernardo Silva as Pep Guardiola makes Manchester City contract plea | OneFootball

Juventus are monitoring the situation around Bernardo Silva in the final six months of the midfielder’s Manchester City contract, as per a new report.

The 31-year-old has been one of Pep Guardiola’s most utilised figures since he joined the club in 2017 from Ligue 1 side Monaco, with the City boss describing him as “one of the most clever players I have ever met in all my years” after his side’s 3-0 win over Liverpool in November 2025. 

Silva, who led Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory in 2025, has garnered a plethora of honours in England – including a UEFA Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups and League Cups. 

The midfielder is coming to the later stages of his career but his lasting importance in Guardiola’s team is perhaps a testament to just how talented a player he is. Silva has made 28 appearances across all competitions this season, with his only goal coming against Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League.

Serie A side Juventus are continuing to work not only on the current transfer window but also on that of the near future. The Italian giants are following Silva but the owners are not rushing just yet to sign him, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. 

Silva has reportedly attracted the additional interest of Como and SSC Napoli but a move to Juventus is the most probable outcome if he is to depart for Italy, with the playmaker out of contract at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

Talks between Silva and his former club Benfica have slowed in recent weeks but there is an understanding that he wants to return to his boyhood club, where he spent 13 years. 

João Noronha Lopes, one of the candidates who lost out to Rui Costa in the election to become Benfica’s next president, said in September 2025 that he wanted to sign Silva and that a “contract is waiting” for the midfielder.

But even though Lopes didn’t win the election, Costa – who played 117 times for Benfica – said he is convinced that Silva wants to be a Benfica player and play for the club, not the president.

“Today he’s captain of Man City. I’m convinced if he returns, it will be like Rui Costa returned, to Benfica, not to any president. I’ve been through that before,” Costa said in conversation with SAPO, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“When a player is a Benfica supporter and wants to return, he returns for the club, not president. He may even think one project is better than another. But I’m absolutely convinced he wants to be a Benfica player.

“He never wanted to be the president’s player; he wanted to be the club’s player. And I think Bernardo thinks like me.”

Guardiola has made a plea to Manchester City director of football Hugo Viana to tie down Silva to a new deal, praising the former AS Monaco man after a five-star display against Newcastle United in the opening leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final tie at St. James’ Park earlier this week.