Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes has once again addressed his plan to bring Bernardo Silva back to Portugal.
In an interview with [**O Jogo**](https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/artigo/noronha-lopes-porque-ser-remunerado-enquanto-presidente-por-principio-e-transparencia/18008398), he repeated that he is “fully convinced” that the Manchester City midfielder will return to Benfica and promised to “do everything possible” to make it happen.
_“He is a great player, one of Benfica’s biggest talents, and he wants to come,”_ Noronha Lopes said. The candidate left no doubt again about his determination to complete the deal.
He also pointed out that Silva’s current contract allows talks to begin soon. _“He has a contract with Manchester City, and he will be free to sign for another club in January,”_ he reminded.
Bernardo Silva’s deal with the Premier League champions runs until June 2026. However, Noronha Lopes believes the timing favours Benfica.
He wants Silva to be one of the main pillars of his sporting project. The midfielder’s strong emotional bond with the Lisbon club continues to be a central theme in the campaign.
This is not the first time Noronha Lopes has spoken about Silva’s return. In recent weeks, he has repeatedly mentioned the Manchester City star as a key target.
His latest statement, though, ensured another big name will be in his plans for the future. _“José Mourinho is a great coach. He will be my coach. I have a structure that will create all the conditions for him to become champion,”_ he revealed.
The combination of Bernardo Silva and José Mourinho, who is already coaching Benfica, has quickly become one of the most discussed topics in Portuguese football. For Noronha Lopes, the two names symbolise identity, ambition and a return to Benfica’s roots.
Still, while the candidate’s campaign gains momentum, Bernardo Silva remains focused on his season with Manchester City and on Pep Guardiola’s plans for the months ahead.