Viana: Bernardo and Stones said they could not play against City! | OneFootball

Director of Football Hugo Viana says Bernardo Silva and John Stones both told him they had to leave the Premier League after exiting City to reduce the likelihood of playing against us.

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Both players left this summer as legends of the club, heading for Real Madrid and Inter respectively, having been crucial to the 20 major honours won under Pep Guardiola.

Bernardo joined in 2017 and represented City more than anyone else in the intervening years, playing 460 times across nine seasons and developing from a prodigiously talented playmaker into a leader and captain.

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Stones came in 2016 – the same year as Guardiola – and grew into one of the finest defenders in the world and a on-pitch lieutenant of the Catalan capable of putting his complex ideas into action.

Having such a shared history with City, the pair both made it clear to Viana that they had no interest in joining another English club so they didn’t have to face City in domestic competitions.

Speaking in the second half of his interview with City Studios reviewing our summer transfer business, Viana said he believes the pair will always be City fans.

“You cannot replace them. It’s impossible. Inside the pitch and also outside. They were really important for the Club. They were really important in the dressing room and day by day here,” he began.

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“Of course, I have a good relationship with both of them. We had really good conversations and I’m keeping in touch with both of them. Yesterday John texted me wishing all the best for the game [Sunday’s 1-0 win at Manchester United].

“I really believe they are really happy when we win and when we lose – we’re going to lose for sure – and when we draw they will be as sad as us.

“They really felt part of the Manchester City family. One of the interesting points we had during our conversations was that both felt they cannot stay in the Premier League.

“They had to go abroad because they cannot face Manchester City.

“So that means a lot for me and the Club to have that kind of player with that mentality.

“They were enjoying it a lot being here, they won a lot of trophies. They were really important. I feel they are still Manchester City fans for sure.”

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Having announced their impending departures before the end of last season, the pair – as well as Guardiola - were given a glorious farewell in their final game at the Etihad.

Both players started in the defeat to Aston Villa and enjoyed guards of honour as they were replaced in the second half, before a presentation ceremony afterwards that included messages from fellow legends, a lifelong season ticket at our home and mosaics at the City Football Academy.

Celebrations of their impact on our history continued into the following day, with a parade through the streets of Manchester and after-party at Co-op Live.

Viana says all of that demonstrated what marks out City as a special club.

“I don’t to be honest,” said Viana, asked if he believes any club honours their players as proudly.

“It’s not because I’m the football director of this club, but the way this Club treats the players and their families.

“We have a lot of players that come here often from playing for different clubs and they all say the same thing.

“That this club is really special and the way the Club treats the players and their families is really unique and special.

“We owe to all the football directors before like Txiki [Begiristain] and Brian [Marwood] and Ferran [Soriano] and Khaldoon [Al Mubarak]. They should be really proud of this.”

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Rodri was another major departure this summer, signing for Barcelona after seven spectacular seasons with City.

The Spaniard left an indelible mark, scoring the winning goal in our maiden Champions League final victory and becoming the first City player ever to win the Ballon d’Or while at the club.

As his move came after leading Spain to this summer’s World Cup, the 30-year-old was not part of the final day presentations of last season.

However, Viana believes Rodri’s emotions towards City are just as strong as those of Bernardo and Stones.

“I think he’s another example like John and Bernardo. He was here so many years winning. I really believe that Rodri is a Manchester City fan also,” he said.

“It’s another player that had to go abroad. Of course we would have liked to keep him. We were having positive conversations with him and his agent.

“But after the World Cup, we had a really honest conversation and again he was thinking to move and to go back to his country and we understood that.

“He had brilliant years. He’s another player that we cannot replace because he’s maybe one of the best if not the best in that position now.

“But of course, it’s another thing that we should be proud of how we treat that player that gave so much to this club when they are thinking to move, we have also to respect that and be positive.

“It’s also our job to be prepared for those situations and try to bring another Rodri, another John, another Bernardo, to be here for the next eight, nine, 10 years.”