Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva will depart the club at the end of the current season.
The 31-year-old Portugal international has spent nine seasons at City, winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League, and will leave when his contract expires.
Speaking after City’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool on Saturday, assistant manager Pep Lijnders, standing in for Pep Guardiola during his touchline suspension, acknowledged Silva’s departure, saying, “Every good story comes to an end,” and noting that the club will not be able to replace their skipper.
“You never replace a player with the same kind of player, because they don’t exist. Bernardo Silva is unique,” Lijnders said, praising his control, vision, leadership, and movement on the pitch. He added that the club will look to academy talents and existing squad members to step up but stressed Silva’s absence will be felt.
Silva, who joined City from AS Monaco in 2017, has made 450 appearances for the club and will have his farewell in the final weeks of the season.