Benfica executive makes staggering Bernardo Silva transfer admission | OneFootball

Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes has made his latest public declaration over the inevitable return of Bernardo Silva to his boyhood club from Manchester City.

Lopes has made no secret of his desire to bring Silva back to his homeland as the Manchester City midfielder progresses into the final year of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, with no current indications of contract renewal talks.

Silva, who joined Manchester City from AS Monaco for £43 million in 2017, has won six Premier League titles as well as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup titles amongst a plethora of silverware under Pep Guardiola in England.

Guardiola appointed Silva to the post of Manchester City captain in pre-season, with Hugo Viana orchestrating a major squad revamp in the summer transfer window which saw the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and Ederson leave the club.

This is not the first time Silva has attracted strong interest from a European club but the length of time remaining on the Portugal international’s current Manchester City deal poses some concern at the Etihad Stadium.

Silva can formally negotiate terms of a potential free transfer from Manchester City next summer from January 1, 2026 and as has been the case with players over 30 allowed to enter the final year of their respective deals over the years, City bosses are unlikely to table contract renewal talks until the spring of 2026.

De Bruyne was told in March that he had no future at the Etihad Stadium past his final contract, though Silva’s fitness record and standing in Guardiola’s newlook side could tempt the club to offer the playmaker a new two or three-year deal.

It has been well known for years that after achieving arguably everything there is to achieved at Manchester City, Silva has wanted to move closer to Portugal and the prospect of a new challenge at a pivotal moment in the midfielder’s illustrious career could tempt him to Benfica.

Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes has made his ambitions clear over engineering a return to his boyhood club for Silva should he be successful in the upcoming club elections, with Lopes reaffirming his wish in a campaign briefing with the Portuguese press this week.

“Bernardo Silva is not just another player. Bernardo symbolises what all Benfiquistas want, which is mystique, commitment, excitement,” said Lopes, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“He (Silva) has an enormous love for Benfica, he is a Benfiquista like us. And what I want is for Bernardo to be able to win at Benfica as he has been winning abroad (in England).

“So what I say again is that if I am president, he will be a Benfica player. Bernardo wants to return, I want him to return, and we will make it happen.”