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Manchester City Star Wanted To Leave Last Summer: What Should Be Pep's Play?
In a recent interview with Què T'hi Jugues, Manchester City's South American scout Joan Patsy stated that Ilkay Gundogan wanted to leave the Mancunian club last summer. Patsy said,
"Bernardo Silva told us in the summer that he wanted to leave City, but nobody came looking for him. Barça? They had no money."
⚽️🌎 Estem parlant amb Joan Patsy, scouter del @ManCity al mercat sudamericà.
😑 "Bernardo Silva ens va dir a l'estiu que volia marxar del City, però ningú va venir a buscar-lo. El Barça? No tenia diners". https://t.co/DWA9QKoktj
— Què T'hi Jugues (@QueThiJugues) December 20, 2022
Silva's Decent Form At The Etihad Stadium This Season
The Portugal international is having another impressive season with Man City as he produced a few influential performances at the centre of Pep Guardiola's midfield. Silva has scored two goals and picked up five assists in 22 matches for the Mancunian outfit during this campaign in all competitions.
The Lisboa-born winger has given a good account of himself in the final third and has done well to average 1.6 tackles, 1.0 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball in the opponent's half after completing 89.9% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Manchester club is set to expire in the summer of 2025. Thus, it makes sense for Man City to cash in on him this winter or else risk losing him as a free agent at the end of this campaign.
What Should Be Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola's Play With Regards To Silva?
Silva is a decent dribbler with the ball at his feet and can complete a few dangerous dribbles in the final third. He has got the eye to play some decisive passes in the opponent's half and can strike the ball with venom and accuracy from long range.
The Portuguese talent also doesn't mind helping out his teammates defensively when needed. Silva is primarily an attacking midfielder but can also fill in as a right-winger or as a box-to-box midfielder if his manager asks him to do so. He remains an important member of Pep Guardiola's first XI.
The fact that Silva wanted to leave Man City last summer suggests that he might not pen a new contract. Thus, the Mancunian outfit would have no choice but to cash in him on a cut-price deal during the January transfer window.
Another option for Guardiola would be to keep hold of Silva until next summer as he could help bring more trophies to the Etihad Stadium in the second half of this season.
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