Sport

Lijnders hints at Man City departure for Silva

Michael Gonzalez April 6, 2026

Lijnders hints at Man City departure for Silva

Pep Lijnders, Manchester City’s assistant manager, has suggested that midfielder Bernardo Silva’s nine-year tenure at the club may conclude this summer. The 31-year-old’s contract runs out at the end of the current season, and he has not yet committed to an extension. Reports indicate interest from Barcelona, Juventus, and American clubs in his services.

During media duties following Saturday’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool, Lijnders emphasized Silva’s significance to the team. “You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist,” he stated.

“Bernardo Silva is unique. The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions. All these things.”

Lijnders acknowledged the difficulty of finding a replacement, noting how Silva’s absence would be felt during a season. “But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months—there are only six weeks—and has a good farewell,” he added.

Silva, who joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017, reached his 450th appearance in Saturday’s match. His recent Carabao Cup triumph marked his 18th piece of silverware with the club. Guardiola, a long-time supporter, made him captain after Kevin de Bruyne’s exit last season. The manager highlighted Silva’s role as a key figure in the squad.

City have been connected with a potential transfer for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, but Lijnders stressed the importance of nurturing young talent. “You never search for a replacement of one type of player,” he noted.

“You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first 11.”

He expressed confidence in the City Academy, saying, “If you see our young boys in the academy, then they have to make that step and to grow. But the most important is that the seniors who stay for a long time, that they stay, that they are always there and, around that, you can move.”