Benfica electoral candidate vows to leave no stone unturned in Bernardo Silva pursuit | OneFootball

Benfica vice-presidential candidate Nuno Gomes has vowed to do everything it takes to bring Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva back to Portugal in 2026.

Silva is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season and there remain huge question marks over the 31-year-old’s club future, with Manchester City yet to table contract renewal talks with their skipper.

The Portugal international was handed the Manchester City armband by Pep Guardiola in the summer following the departures of Kyle Walker and Kevin De Bruyne, with the Catalan taking the captaincy decision in his own hands for the first time in his managerial career.

There will not be a dearth of suitors for Silva in 2026 and the six-time Premier League has confirmed that he has already made his mind up on his Manchester City future but will refrain from commenting on his plans until the latter stages of the season.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium will be keeping a close eye on Silva’s fitness and performances as the season progresses, though negotiations would be likely happening behind the scenes on Silva’s plans beyond the current campaign.

City have lost several senior stars in recent seasons and Silva’s departure would leave a huge hole in Guardiola’s midfield – a department that has seen reinforcements arrive in the form of Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki in 2025.

Since signing from AS Monaco in 2017, Silva has been instrumental to the success Manchester City have enjoyed under Guardiola and club officials, like Guardiola, will be keen on tying their captain down to fresh terms well before June 2026.

However, Silva’s comments on having made a decision on his future add a level of intrigue on whether Manchester City have indeed been told – in one way or another – that this may really be the Portuguese star’s final season at the Etihad Stadium.

Benfica have expressed the strongest interest in signing Silva in 2026 as presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes aims to launch his tenure with bringing back one of their own to Portugal. In an interview with Record this week, Lopes’ vice-presidential candidate Nuno Gomes has reaffirmed that Silva is their top transfer target.

“There isn’t much more to add. We are ready to do everything so that he can return next season,” Gomes said, as quoted by Sport Witness.

However, Gomes has thrown caution to his wind and admitted that he cannot promise the signing of Silva from Manchester City just yet. “I can’t promise that. If I did, I’d be using Bernardo as an electoral banner without much substance,” he added.

“But we will fight, with every effort. I believe that he wouldn’t come back with just any president. It’s an opinion. I don’t speak for Bernardo (Silva), I can’t read his mind but that’s the feeling I have.”

Manchester City will want to know sooner rather than later on whether Silva is open to renewing his contract as they plan for the future and build on a stellar 2025 summer transfer window in January 2026 and next summer.