Bernardo Silva spoke out about his appreciation for his career at Manchester City.
The captain confirmed that he would be leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season as his contract came to an end. He has made 451 appearances for the Citizens during a nine-year spell from 2017 until 2026, and he is the player to feature for Pep Guardiola the most in his managerial career.
A trusted lieutenant in Guardiola's system
A technically gifted wide man upon his arrival from Monaco, Bernardo became a trusted lieutenant in deeper zones of the field. He has now settled in the midfield department alongside Rodri, and his craftiness continues to earn praise from a manager who has maintained the highest of standards.
A City supporter for life
It has been a two-way street: Bernardo has been at the heart of a generation of unparalleled success for the Citizens, whose treble in 2023 was the peak of their project. The Portugal international is adored by the fans, and he hopes that the run-in lays foundations for further success from the club.
"What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart."
"When I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. This city and this club gave me much more than that.
"What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The centurions [the 100-point title-winners of 2017-18], the domestic quadruple, the treble, the four-in-a-row and much more – it wasn't that bad.
Bernardo's message to the fans
"To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget. My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I arrived as a City player, I leave as one more of you, a City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team and I'm pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future.
"To the club, Pep, the staff and all my teammates these 9 years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long. The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let's enjoy these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us."