Bernardo Silva already has his next team ready after leaving Man City.
Bernardo Silva is getting ready for his next chapter after wrapping up an amazing time at Manchester City.
The Portuguese star, who joined from AS Monaco in 2017, captained City to two trophies in his last season at the Etihad Stadium. Alongside his good friend John Stones and manager Pep Guardiola, Sunday’s game against Aston Villa will be his final match for City after a fantastic journey.
Silva is leaving on a free transfer, choosing not to renew his contract, but at just 31, he plans to keep playing at a top level. It looks like Atletico Madrid are leading the race to sign him.
According to MARCA and Alfredo Pedulla, Silva is expected to replace Antoine Griezmann, who’s moving to MLS with Orlando City after this season. Silva feels that working with Diego Simeone at Atletico is the right next step, and the club is ready to offer a big signing bonus to make the move happen.
Juventus had also shown strong interest and were willing to offer him around €8 million per year until 2028, but those talks seem to have fallen through. Silva looks set to join Atletico Madrid and become one of their highest-paid players.
He might also team up again with his former City teammate Julian Alvarez, though Alvarez is attracting attention from many top European clubs thanks to his great form.
During his time at City, Barcelona tried to sign Silva multiple times, but he stayed loyal, even when he came close to leaving. He explained in an interview with Portuguese channel Canal 11: “It was a decision I made two years ago, that I would finish my contract and then go our separate ways. When I made the decision, I knew I wouldn’t change my mind.”
He added, “Leaving is a natural choice. It’s my last chance to take on a new challenge and try something different. Since I told my family, they’ve been encouraging me. Nine years is a long time, and after everything I’ve achieved here, it felt right to do something new.”
Silva leaves City with 20 trophies and holds the record for the most Premier League appearances by a Portuguese player. He’s set to make his 304th and final Premier League appearance against Villa. City even created a special mosaic at their training ground to honor his incredible contributions.
The same tribute was given to fan favorite Stones, and Guardiola’s legacy was celebrated by naming the club’s new north stand after him.