Pep Guardiola Hopes Bernardo Silva Will Finish Career At Manchester City

Pep Guardiola says he would love Bernardo Silva to end his playing days at Manchester City but insists the final call rests with the captain.

Speculation over Silva’s future has grown after assistant coach Pep Lijnders suggested last week that the midfielder’s nine-year spell could end this summer.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and has been linked with Barcelona, Juventus and clubs in Major League Soccer.

Guardiola, however, says no decision has been communicated.

“I’m so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said, ‘if you make a decision I have to be the first to [know]’, and he didn’t say anything to me yet,” said Guardiola.

“I think the proper one must be Bernardo, I don’t know if he has already decided. I said, jokingly, ‘tell me I deserve it’, but he didn’t tell me so I don’t know what’s going on.”

Lijnders made his remarks after City’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool while Guardiola served a touchline ban.

“You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist,” said Lijnders. “But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months – there are only six weeks – and has a good farewell.”

Silva joined City from AS Monaco in 2017 and made his 450th appearance during the EFL Cup final win against Arsenal last month. He was appointed captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne.

“He is not the tallest one, the most muscular one, or score 50 goals or make 50 assists a season,” Guardiola added. “These are the type of players that are spotlighted and everyone talks about. For nine years, I have known him quite well and what a manager requires.

“All managers would say how much they love him because he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside him always. In the toughest moments and on the biggest stages, he is always there.

“He has been an incredible signing for us, incredible. I love this club and I would love if he could stay and finish his career here but I do not know. He will decide what he will decide. It is his decision.”