Bernardo Silva has taken aim at Arsenal, and has compared Mikel Arteta's side unfavorably to Liverpool in a barbed interview before his exit from Manchester City
18:14, 15 May 2026
Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder #20 Bernardo Silva (L) vies with Arsenal's Belgian midfielder #19 Leandro Trossard (R) during the English League Cup final football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London on March 22, 2026
Bernardo Silva has hit out at Arsenal ahead of exit from Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)
Bernardo Silva is firing shots at Arsenal before his exit from Manchester City this summer, with the midfielder insisting he still views Liverpool as his biggest rival.
The 31-year-old will depart the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, having been a regular thorn in the side of the Reds for years. Bernardo has not made too many friends at Anfield, especially after refusing to applaud Jurgen Klopp’s side following their 2020 Premier League triumph.
Ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup final though, when City will face Chelsea at Wembley, the Portuguese international has paid some begruding respect to Liverpool, while comparing the Reds much more favorably to Arsenal.
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For the first time since 2017, it looks as though someone other than City or Liverpool will win this season’s title, with the Gunners sitting two points clear heading into the final couple of games of the campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side will have the chance to extend that lead to five points as they face Burnley on Monday, with City not back in league action until 24 hours later against Bournemouth. The title could therefore be heading to north London before the final round of fixtures.
But if Bernardo wasn’t impressed with Liverpool’s title in 2020, he seems even less enthralled by Arsenal’s potential triumph this year.
Bernardo Silva (second from left) refused to applaud Liverpool's title winners when they visited the Etihad in July 2020
Bernardo Silva (second from left) refused to applaud Liverpool's title winners when they visited the Etihad in July 2020(Image: Getty Images)
“They’ve been growing and well, it’s a team that has been together for, what, five years now, so it’s only natural that they would man up a little bit and start challenging for titles,” he told The Athletic.
The barbs didn’t stop there, with Bernardo going on to admit he’s not a fan of Mikel Arteta’s side.
“No, I’m not in love,” he said. “I do believe our main rivals (in his time at City) were Liverpool by far.
“I also believe — and I know this is very subjective — that if we were not in a transitional season and if we didn’t make so many mistakes, we would have won this league.
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“I don’t say we would have won easily, but we would have won this league so it’s quite frustrating.”
Liverpool.com says: Bernardo’s staying classy till the end then. Liverpool fans know all about his antics, and not just his refusal to show some appreciation for the Reds’ title win.
He is one of those players you love to hate, not least because he just seems to get away with everything. Who can forget him effectively wrestling Mohamed Salah to the ground at Anfield, and somehow not being penalized? Or his bitter comments on Liverpool fans a few years ago?
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Still, it’s some going from Arsenal to actually make him say something nice about the Reds.