Assistant coach says “every good story comes to an end” as midfielder’s contract set to expire in the summer
Manchester City assistant manager Pep Lijnders has said Bernardo Silva will leave the club when his contract expires this summer.
Ljinders was in the dugout for City’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool, with Pep Guardiola serving a suspension. After the game, Lijnders praised Silva’s influence but revealed that his nine-year spell in Manchester would come to a close at the end of the season.
“You never replace a player with the same kind of player because they don’t exist,” Ljinders said. “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.
“But it will be hard because, as I said, in the game, when he is not playing you will see how he is missed – and that’s one game. Imagine 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 deserves all that attention as well.”
Silva joined City from AS Monaco in 2017 and recently made his 450th appearance for the club. He has been a key figure during the most successful period in City’s history and was appointed captain by Pep Guardiola following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne.
The 31-year-old has yet to agree a contract extension and has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Juventus and clubs in MLS.
Lijnders also indicated that City would not attempt to directly replace Silva but instead focusing on evolving the squad and promoting younger players into midfield roles.
“You never search for a replacement of one type of player,” said Ljinders. “You search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first 11.”
