MANCHESTER, England (AP) 鈥� Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola would 鈥渓ove鈥� Bernardo Silva to stay at the club but has no idea whether the midfielder will sign a new contract.
Silva’s contract expires at the end of the season and assistant coach Pep Lijnders recently hinted that Silva may not sign a new contract. The 31-year-old attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to Spanish giant Barcelona and Juventus in Serie A.
鈥淗e has been an incredible signing for us, incredible. I love this club and I would love if he could stay and finish his career here but I do not know,” Guardiola said Friday at a pre-match news conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game at Chelsea. “He will decide what he will decide. It is his decision.鈥�
Trouble is, Guardiola has no idea when that decision will come.
鈥淚鈥檓 so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said 鈥榠f you take a decision I have to be the first to (know)鈥� and he didn鈥檛 say anything to me yet,” Guardiola said. “I don鈥檛 know if he has already decided. I said, jokingly, 鈥榯ell me, I deserve (to know)鈥� but he didn鈥檛 tell me, so I don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on.鈥�
Silva has been one of City’s best signings since joining from Monaco nine years ago. His quick feet, vision and eye for goal immediately won the fans over. Silva recently played his 450th game for the club and has scored 76 goals. He has made over 100 appearances for Portugal.
鈥淎ll managers would say how much they love him because he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside him always,” Guardiola said. 鈥淚n the toughest moments and on the biggest stages, he is always there.鈥� ___
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