Bernardo Silva is more than a footballer. He is a time-travelling, shapeshifting superhero, a nine-volt battery of a man battling feral giants on the pitch. In 55 years of watching football, I have never seen anyone like him. For the past decade, I have been fortunate to watch him play for my club, Manchester City. Now, it is time to say goodbye.
Unmatched Versatility
Some footballers are known for playing in virtually every position, like James Milner or John O'Shea. They are solid and reliable but unimaginative. Silva, however, is in a sphere of his own. Not only is he supremely skilful, but he often plays in every position in a single match, sometimes even in a single move. He collects the ball from the goalkeeper, acting as a libero, then pops up at right-back, then as a playmaker threading defence-splitting passes, then on the wing to curl a cross, and finally at the edge of the box to unleash a shot.
Memorable Goals and Moments
His goals include a curler against Arsenal, a screamer against United, and an astonishing volley against Birmingham in the FA Cup. Most importantly, he scored two goals against Real Madrid in the 2023 Champions League semi-final. Despite his height, he is a genius at headed goals, as seen in his duel with Arsenal's Viktor Gyökeres.
His stats are not outstanding: 76 goals and 77 assists in 459 appearances. But he will be remembered for his grace, intelligence, ability to find space, subtle shimmies, and dribbling through brick walls. Most of all, his superhuman stamina. In a 2019 match against Liverpool, he ran 13.7 km, a Premier League record. He never tires, rarely gets injured, and could have been a samurai if not for football.
Enduring Love for Manchester
Every season he said he wanted to leave for sunnier climes, but Manchester and City won out until now. For 109 glorious games, he played alongside David Silva, forming Pep Guardiola's pocket-sized midfield. They sang to Spandau Ballet: 'Who needs Gold? We've got two Silvas.' Together, they achieved 100 points in a season, a domestic clean sweep, a treble, and four successive Premier League titles.
The Spiky Side
Bernardo is cute, fun, and lovable when he likes you, but he can bite. He is a master of tactical fouls and sly nudges. In a recent match against Brentford, he clashed with Nathan Collins, and the commentator noted his tendency to rile opponents. His tongue is as sharp as his tackle; when asked why he didn't go to the gym, he said, 'That's for guys who don't know how to play with their feet.'
His spikiest moment came when City formed a guard of honour for Liverpool in 2020. He refused to clap, holding a mug instead, sparking 'Cupofteagate'. He later explained, 'It's hypocrisy. I wasn't going to clap Liverpool because that's not how I celebrate defeat.'
A Fitting Farewell
In his final season, he captained City to League Cup and FA Cup triumphs. His numbers were modest, but stats lie. He leaves at his peak, omnipresent and unsubstitutable. Pep Guardiola called him 'my weakness, my favourite one.' Who am I to disagree?
