Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva in action. (Getty Images)
According to The Mirror, Bernardo Silva is eyeing a way out of Manchester City in the summer transfer window. He is supposedly unhappy with the lack of playing time at the club. One club linked with his services are Atletico Madrid, the Spanish champions who want to strengthen after this season’s success.
Silva joined City from AS Monaco in 2017 for a £43.5million fee. But after 4 successful years, it seems like he hasn’t taken well to competition for starts at the club and wants a way out. However, he is one player that the Premier League champions must look to hold on to this summer. We will now look at the reasons behind that statement.
Manchester City won the Premier League and boast of a very able squad. However, even the league champions need depth and competition in all areas of the pitch to ensure that they can keep on rising to new challenges and continue being successful. One such area is the midfield as well as the wings.
If City need depth, quality and competition in those areas, they should not look any further than Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese playmaker can play on the right-wing, attacking midfield, as well as central midfield. Thus, keeping the 26-year-old at the Etihad next season means that Pep Guardiola could ensure good depth in two to three positions with just one player.
With Ferran Torres, Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling, and Riyad Mahrez, City do have a plethora of wingers at their disposal. But this is where Bernardo can nestle himself nicely in central midfield, a position where City have just Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, and Foden.
It’s not like Silva was totally devoid of action this season. He played 45 games in all competitions during the campaign where City won the league and also reached the UEFA Champions League final in a losing cause. Guardiola should look to hand more starts to Silva wherever possible in an effort to keep him content because he is a useful player in all shades of that word.
And with City going into the next season without Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho, Guardiola would have to switch up his squad at times to rest players as well as hand game time to others. And this is where Silva can play an important role. If Gundogan ever deputizes for Rodri as a defensive midfielder, Silva can fill in for the German in central midfield.
If at all, like last season, Guardiola decides to play Ferran Torres or Kevin de Bruyne in a false-9 role, the Portuguese playmaker can take up their positions on the wings and attacking midfield respectively. Yes, City do need to get in a No.9 after Aguero’s departure, but it should not mean selling an important squad member like Silva to raise funds.
And with Guardiola himself waxing lyrical about Bernardo’s ability on and off the ball (h/t Manchester Evening News), the Spaniard should ensure that he does not lose a player that has been vital for them in their success in the past 4 years. And with a contract that only expires in 2025, the onus is on the club to ensure his stay.
“He’s skinny and not tall but so strong, everyone you see, everyone runs, it’s what we like the most, solidarity, commitment, friendship, run for the others and run for you. He wants to recover as quick as possible and defend.”
