Bernardo Silva: Manchester City assistant Pep Lijnders in departure hint
Manchester City Assistant manager Pep Lijnders hinted that midfielder Bernardo Silva’s nine-year spell at the club will end this summer, saying “every good story has an end”.
The 31-year-old football player’s contract expires at the end of the season. He is yet to sign an extension and has been linked with La Liga leaders Barcelona, Serie A side Juventus and clubs in America.
Lijnders was on media duty after manager Pep Guardiola served a touchline penalty in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, and he stressed the Portuguese’s importance to City.
“You can never replace a player with the same type of player because there is no such player,” he 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 solutions. All these things.
“But it will be difficult because, as I said, you will see how he is missed when he is not playing in the game and that is one game. Imagine a season.
“But every good story has an ending and I hope he enjoys the last months – it’s only six weeks – and says goodbye on a good note.
“He deserves all this attention too.”
