Bernardo Silva has given an insight into the club he wishes to play for once he departs Manchester City.
The 29-year-old joined the Citizens in a £43.5million deal from Monaco in 2017 where he has established himself as a club legend.
He has got his hands on five Premier League titles along with the Champions League, as well as two FA Cups and four League Cups.
Still a key player under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage, he has chipped in with 58 goals and 62 assists in 319 games in all competitions for City.
In August, Silva ended any uncertainty surrounding his future by penning a new deal until 2026, having previously been targeted by both Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
But there remains one team that he has admitted he would love to play for – boyhood club Benfica.
Having played three senior matches for the club in the 2013/14 season after rising through the ranks, the Portuguese playmaker has since admitted he plans to return in the future.
Speaking to CNN, he said: “I want to return to Benfica. If the club wants me at the time, obviously things will happen.”
Silva also revealed he would never play for Benfica’s rivals Sporting Lisbon or Porto, with his heart solely set on a return to the Estadio da Luz.
“I was incapable of playing for FC Porto or Sporting. It’s not going to happen,” he added.
2
The experienced midfielder is now trying to lure his fellow countryman and youngster, Joao Neves, to City from Benfica.
But he faces a battle with Manchester City skipper Bruno Fernandes, who is looking to convince the 19-year-old to Old Trafford.
He told Sport TV: “I would love to have him at United. But it’s Joao’s choice.
“He has top quality. He’s a great player but it depends on the coach’s ideas. He will have a great future, in United or somewhere else.”
However Silva has insisted he will do everything he can for the midfielder to shun a switch to the Theatre of Dreams.
Quoted by the Metro, he remarked: “For City instead of United? If I can, I will pull strings to Joao Neves to go to Man City.
“I’d like to see Joao joining City instead of Man United, of course.”