“When I arrived here…” – Bernardo Silva reflects on Manchester City captaincy as contract expiration looms | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has reflected in the opportunity of serving as club captain this season in a wide-ranging interview.

The 31-year-old was handed the armband by manager Pep Guardiola at the start of the season after the notable departures of Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker from the Etihad Stadium in the backdrop of a disappointing 2024-25 season.

Silva has been one of Guardiola’s most successful signings at City, with the Portugal international leading the Blues to a plethora of success on the domestic, European and global fronts since joining from AS Monaco for £43 million in 2017.

Reflecting on the chance to serve as Manchester City skipper this term, Silva said: “Well, yeah, it was a huge honour to start with for Pep to think that I would be a good captain and to believe in me to lead the team,” in an interview for the March issue of the club’s official magazine.

“It’s a massive honour and a massive responsibility. And yeah, even though I think related to last season to the results not being the best and what we expected, we decided to go in a different way this time.

“And yeah, I’m happy. I’m happy to help the team to share all my experience to try and also be an example and try to set the standards for the youngsters – and not just me, but especially the guys that have been here for a long time to set a standards for the new guys and help them to understand what this club requires. But it’s been nice.

“Giving everything everytime I play, that’s the way I played my whole career and as a captain, that’s the way that I saw my captains behave.”

Silva went on to credit a series of former teammates who helped him learn the demands of wearing the Manchester City shirt in his opening seasons in England.

“When I arrived here at City, I saw the way  – for example – Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho were as leaders,” the playmaker added. “You see how they behave on the pitch and think, ‘Yeah, when one of the oldest guys and the captain does that,’ so you as a young guy, you feel like you also have to do that – so I think that’s a good example to set.

“I have played under many great captains and their personalities are all completely different. Every person is different. But for sure, you take lessons and you learn a lot.

“I learned a lot from all the guys that were my captains in the past – even apart from the ones I’ve had at City such as Radamel Falcao at Monaco – he was a great captain and with Cristiano (Ronaldo) in the (Portugal) National Team.

“And also with the guys that haven’t been the first captain, for example, Ruben (Dias) is a proper leader. I learned a lot from Ruben, for example, and I still do. And I loved playing with Fernandinho. If I had to choose not the best players, but the guys that I really enjoyed playing alongside, Fernandinho would be high on my list.

“So those are great examples of people that inspire you and you try to take a little bits from here and there, obviously not changing your own personality and your way of being, but it helps you.”

Silva is expected to leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season and if this is indeed the final chapter for the Portuguese midfielder in England, he will want to go out with silverware in his hands as the club captain.