Shock move: Bernardo Silva set to leave Manchester City on a free transfer | OneFootball

The contract of the 31-year-old Portuguese player with the Cityzens expires in the middle of the year and there are no ongoing talks for a renewal. Several teams are licking their lips at the possibility of landing a star without having to pay a transfer fee.

According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Bernardo Silva will not renew his contract with Manchester City and will leave the club as a free agent in the middle of the year. The 31-year-old Portuguese, current captain and key figure in Pep Guardiola’s team, has no intention of extending his stay at the club he joined in 2017 and will look for a new destination starting in June.

As he enters his final six months as a City player, rumors about his departure have skyrocketed. There have been, and will be, no negotiations between the parties, and at this point it already seems a foregone conclusion that his glorious spell at the most dominant English club of the last decade has come to an end.

Amid a complete renewal process underway in Manchester, Silva’s departure is just one of many that have taken place in recent seasons. For example, he inherited the captain’s armband following the departures of two icons: Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker.

Bernardo Silva is currently in his ninth season at Manchester City, a club he joined in mid-2017 from Monaco. In these nine years, he has played no fewer than 445 matches, scored 75 goals, and provided 77 assists. A symbol of Guardiola’s football, he was a key piece in winning six Premier Leagues and the 2023 Champions League, among other titles.

While waiting for an official statement—whether from the club, the player, or both—rumors about his next destination have already begun to circulate in Europe. Benfica, the club where he began his footballing career, is the first name to emerge strongly, although it is clear they will have to compete with several high-profile suitors. For instance, it is known that Barcelona has always been interested in signing him. Bernardo Silva is preparing to be the most sought-after player in the next transfer window.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.