Pep Lijnders, assistant manager of Manchester City, has suggested that midfielder Bernardo Silva could be nearing the end of his time at the club, stating that “every good story comes to an end.”
The 31-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, is yet to agree to a renewal and has been linked with top clubs including FC Barcelona, Juventus, and teams in the United States.
Lijnders made the remarks after City’s 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool FC, a match in which he handled media duties while manager Pep Guardiola served a touchline ban.
Praising Silva’s influence, Lijnders described him as irreplaceable, highlighting his intelligence, movement, leadership, and ability to control games.
“You never replace a player like Bernardo because players like him don’t exist,” he said. “But every good story comes to an end. I hope he enjoys these final weeks and gets the farewell he deserves.”
Silva, who joined City from AS Monaco in 2017, recently made his 450th appearance for the club. He has won 18 trophies, including the latest Carabao Cup triumph.
Guardiola, a long-time admirer, made Silva captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne last season, further underlining his importance to the team.
Looking ahead, Lijnders hinted that rather than directly replacing Silva, City may focus on evolving the squad, potentially integrating young talents from their academy while targeting players who fit the team’s future needs.
