Bernardo Silva reveals full-circle Vincent Kompany text after major Pep Guardiola decision | OneFootball

Bernardo Silva has revealed that he received a message from former teammate and current Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany upon receiving the Manchester City captaincy this summer.

Silva was handed the armband by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola following the departures of Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker in June, with former City captain Ilkay Gundogan also completing a deadline day transfer to Galatasaray.

Manchester City have embarked upon a new era after a rejig of the first-team squad in the recent transfer window led by newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana, who replaced long-serving executive Txiki Begiristain this summer.

Viana sanctioned the arrival of seven new signings and oversaw the exits of several senior stars in a mass exodus at the Etihad Stadium, with Ederson and James McAtee also among those sold by the eight-time Premier League champions.

There was uncertainly looming over the future of Silva too as the Portugal international enters the final year of his current Manchester City deal, having previously attracted interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Silva has been allowed to enter the last 12 months of his contract by officials at the Etihad Stadium, who have altered their hard stance on contract expirations in recent seasons and allowed their biggest names to decide their future in the final year of their respective deals.

Benfica possess a strong interest in completing a sensational return for Silva, 31, who is set to captain Manchester City against former side AS Monaco – whom he left in 2017 – in the UEFA Champions League group-stage on Wednesday.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of an emotional face-off against AS Monaco, Silva was asked about a famous quote from former Manchester City defender and current Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.

In his final season at the Etihad Stadium, Kompany famously remarked that Silva was “50% clown 50% leader” and that would go on to be Manchester City skipper when he would become “25% clown 75% leader – a quote that was brought back to Silva’s attention earlier this summer.

Quizzed on the Manchester City captaincy and Kompany’s previous comments, Silva said: “Vincent Kompany actually sent me that quote when Pep (Guardiola) appointed me captain, so we spoke after that. He said, ‘I knew I was right all along’.”

Alongside John Stones and Phil Foden, Silva remains one of Guardiola’s longest-serving players at Manchester City and the midfielder will know the weight of the armband as he leads a new-look dressing room through a period of transition at the club.

Silva added: “I’m trying me best to put the Manchester City team as close as possible back to the level where it deserves to be. My job now is to try and create that energy, that chemistry back as a group of captains.

“So people behave in the right way in training, in games, arrive early and on time to training, to train properly, be in good condition, take care of themselves – that’s our job.

“These Manchester City players definitely have the potential to be there (at the time), but it’s just a matter of time. I hope it’s this season, I really hope, and I truly believe that it can be this season.”

Having started Manchester City’s 5-1 Premier League triumph over Burnley on Saturday from the bench, Silva is expected to return to the starting XI against AS Monaco on Wednesday as the Blues look to build on their opening day group-stage win over Napoli.