A recent report from Manchester Evening News has confirmed that Manchester City have sanctioned the exit of Bernardo Silva. It is understood that the Portuguese international has yet to commit his future to City and the transfer saga has been developing the whole summer. Barcelona and the Mancunian giants have agreed on a fee in the region of £42m – £46.5m for the midfield wizard.
Silva’s Campaign For Manchester City Last Season
Silva had a solid campaign last season when he managed to produce some master-class displays as a key member of Guardiola’s starting XI. He appeared in over 50 matches for the Sky Blues last season as he banged in 13 goals and created seven assists across all competitions.
The Portuguese sensation performed consistently for Man City on the attacking end of the field as he averaged 1.3 shots, 1.7 key passes, 1.6 tackles, 0.5 interceptions and 1.5 dribbles per game in Premier League football. He was spectacular with his ball distribution, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 89.6% in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
What’s Guardiola’s Play?
Silva is a key player for Pep Guardiola as he transitions the ball from the backline to the men up front. He is an attacking midfielder who can create some clear-cut goal-scoring chances and excels at getting out of tight situations due to excellent ball control. The Portuguese wizard can find a pass like no other.
His versatility allows him to roam the attacking third with ease and he has been producing some master class displays for the Sky Blues over the past few years. His exit will be a huge blow for Guardiola and the Spanish tactician will have to find a decent replacement as soon as possible.
However, Man City have been linked with a few midfielders to replace Silva and Marco Verratti remains a recent development for the Sky Blues.
