Manchester City assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has announced that Bernardo Silva is set to depart the Etihad at the end of the campaign.
Ending months of fevered speculation, Pepijn Lijnders, Pep Guardiola’s trusted lieutenant, has confirmed that the Portuguese midfielder will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. The announcement was made during a post-match press conference following the victory over Liverpool, with the details remaining embargoed for 24 hours after the final whistle.
“All good stories come to an end. I hope he enjoys his final months and gets a good send-off. He deserves all that attention too,” the City assistant noted when questioned about the Portuguese playmaker.
The Dutch coach, standing in for the suspended Pep Guardiola, was full of praise for the midfielder and confirmed the club has no immediate plans to recruit a direct replacement this summer: “You never replace one player with an identical one, because they don’t exist. Bernardo is unique. His way of controlling games, his movement, his ball reception, his leadership, his ability to see solutions… all those things.”
“That’s why you never look for a substitute for a specific type of player. You look for what you need—someone who can grow with the team and fit into the starting XI,” he added.
Lijnders suggested the club intends to look towards the academy to fill the void left by Bernardo Silva, while also stressing the importance of the squad’s senior core: “The most important thing is that the veterans stay for a long time. That they remain. Bernardo’s departure will be difficult because, as I said during the game, when he doesn’t play, you’ll see how much he’s missed – and that’s just for one match. Imagine an entire season.”
The Portuguese international arrived at Manchester City from Monaco in the summer of 2017 for €50 million. He has since established himself as a cornerstone of the club’s trophy-laden era, regarded by Guardiola as one of the most indispensable figures in the greatest side in the club’s history.
During his decorated spell with the ‘Citizens’, he has racked up 450 appearances, 76 goals, and 73 assists, lifting 18 trophies in the process. This term, despite a slightly more peripheral role, he has still featured in 43 matches, netting three goals and providing five assists to date.
Bernardo Silva could yet sign off with a seventh Premier League title if City can overturn Arsenal’s nine-point lead, while an FA Cup swansong remains possible after Manchester City were drawn against Southampton in the semi-finals.