Pep Guardiola makes fresh contract renewal plea to Hugo Viana and Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he would love to have Bernardo Silva in his ranks forever amid uncertainty over the midfielder’s club future

Silva will be out of contract at the Etihad Stadium in June, with no indication at present of contract talks between the 31-year-old and club officials, who could see the Portugal international leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

Since joining forces with Guardiola in 2017, Silva has established himself as an all-time Manchester City great, winning six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League, a historic treble and a plethora of domestic silverware since joining from AS Monaco for £43 million.

City bid farewell to a series of senior stars last summer when Hugo Viana revamped the first-team ranks upon his appointment as director of football, signing off on the departures of Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Scott Carson, Ederson, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji.

The Blues are in the running for silverware on four fronts in the second half of the season, having bolstered their roster with the shrewd acquisitions of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi for a combined £84 million in January.

After consecutive losses to Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, Guardiola and co returned to winning ways against Wolves on Saturday afternoon, though City have won just thrice in their last eight games in all competitions.

The jury remains out on whether a new-look Manchester City side have the tools to finish the season with silverware, though there is a cloud of doubt hanging over Silva’s unresolved future at the club as the playmaker enters the final months of his current deal.

The City captain drew huge praise from his manager after leading the Blues to three points against Wolves at the weekend. “I sleep better when I decide to play Bernardo Silva and I have to take care of my health,” said Guardiola in his post-match press conference.

“He’s another type, a competitor, he has fire in his eyes still. Hopefully he can inoculate this fire to the rest of the group. How we defend every ball, read what we have to do. The guy who creates excuses forgets the mistakes and he never finds excuses.

“He’s special because of how he competes in every game. Sometimes he cannot because he is exhausted. He has played the most minutes with me in 10 seasons here, it’s because he’s really good. Playing like he did (against Wolves), he will be undroppable. Undroppable. I cannot (drop him).”

Addressing Silva’s contract situation, Guardiola added: “I’d love for Manchester City, for myself, if Bernardo Silva could stay forever. But we spoke a lot with Bernie and Bernie has to decide the best for him and his family,” as quoted by official club media.

“Whatever happens, this season, next season, in 10 years, he will remain one of the greatest players this club has had in its long history.”

A firm decision on Silva’s club future is not expected anytime soon, with the Portuguese fully focussed on leading Manchester City back to silverware in the backdrop of a dismal 2024-25 season, though the midfielder will be scouting possible exit destinations behind the scenes as the term progresses.