Pep Guardiola compares Manchester City star to Lionel Messi in ultimate compliment | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Bernardo Silva after the Manchester City captain scored a brilliant header to help secure a 2-0 win over Villarreal in Spain on Tuesday.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the Blues at Estadi de la Ceràmica and Silva headed in expertly from Savinho’s cross on the cusp of half-time to give City some room in their third UEFA Champions League group-phase fixture.

The win puts Manchester City in fifth place in the UEFA Champions League group-stage rankings as Guardiola and his men look to improve upon their Round of 16 finish in the competition from last term and go all the way this time round.

City have recovered from their stuttering start to the season and have looked increasingly like the Manchester City of old since the September international break – though Guardiola will know his new-look side need time to compare to his title-winning sides of the recent past.

It was a busy summer at the Etihad Stadium as changes were rung on and off the pitch by newly-appointed director of football Hugo Viana, who signed off on the exits of several first-team stars after a sub-par 2024-25 season wherein Manchester City recorded their lowest points tally (71) in the Premier League under Guardiola.

Kyle Walker’s return from an unsuccessful loan at AC Milan did not last long as the 35-year-old defender joined Burnley for £5 million, with Guardiola deeming the Sheffield-born man surplus to requirements after Walker’s mid-season exit last term.

Silva was handed the Manchester City armband by Guardiola, who broke a long-held personal rule and took the captaincy decision in his own hands for the first time in his managerial career after Walker’s January exit.

Since his £43 million transfer from AS Monaco, Silva has been one of Manchester City’s best players under Guardiola and is a strong contender for the best value signing the Catalan has made during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Singing his captain’s praises after Silva scored a header against Villarreal on Tuesday, Guardiola said: “Bernardo (Silva) made an incredible header. Bernardo, I remember like Riyad Mahrez, a little bit like (Lionel) Messi, they have a hammer in their neck, they are so good, they are small but they are so good in the head contacts,” in conversation with TNT Sports.

Silva has been a mainstay in the Manchester City starting XI this season as questions remain on the future of the Portugal international, who will be out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2026.

The six-time Premier League winner has admitted publicly that he has made up his mind on his club future but a decision is not expected to be revealed anytime soon, with Manchester City looking to challenge on all fronts after finishing trophyless last season.

Viana has allowed Silva to enter the final year of his current deal, running the risk of Manchester City losing the Benfica academy graduate for nothing at the end of the season, with Silva formally able to negotiate a pre-contract with clubs from January 1, 2026.