Manchester City announce player exit pre-Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Manchester City have announced that Bernardo Silva will leave at the end of the season, making Sunday’s game the last time he’ll play for the club against Arsenal.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Three days before their pivotal Premier League title race clash against Arsenal, Manchester City have confirmed the impending departure of Bernardo Silva at the end of his contract this summer.

Silva himself wrote on social media: “In a few months it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!

“I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. To the club, Pep, the staff and all my teammates these 9 years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long.

“Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.”

Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images

City write that they’ll deliver a tribute and farewell to Silva at the end of the season, adding that the player’s focus is now on trying to win the Premier League and the FA Cup.

It’s unclear where Silva will go next, so it’s very possible that he’ll face Arsenal again with his next club. But Sunday’s game will be the last he’ll play for City against the Gunners this season, and thus likely the last he’ll ever play for his current club against Arsenal.

City remain in the FA Cup, and Arsenal in the Champions League, but the two have both been eliminated from the other competition respectively, ruling out the possibility of further meetings.

Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Silva has scored twice and assisted once in his 24 matches against Arsenal, but he’s been on the winning side much more regularly.

City have 16 wins in the 22 games the midfielder has played against the Gunners (his other two matches were with AS Monaco), and it’s up to Mikel Arteta’s side to stop him increasing that number.