The Truth Finally Out! Journalist Delivers Brutal Verdict on Manchester City Star’s Potential Exit – Is This the End of the Rumors?
In recent weeks, speculation has intensified around the possibility of Bernardo Silva making a heartfelt return to his boyhood club, Benfica, during the upcoming summer transfer window. This comes amid reports suggesting that Manchester City are preparing for a major overhaul of their squad – a move aimed at injecting fresh energy and youth into a side that, over recent years, has been allowed to gradually age due to a more passive approach in the transfer market.
At the heart of this transformation lies the future of key players such as Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder, now 30, has long been admired by Benfica fans, and reports originating in Portugal hinted that the player himself was receptive to the idea of returning home. That optimism was briefly echoed in English media, which claimed that Benfica had even gone as far as to make initial enquiries regarding a potential deal.
However, any realistic hopes of a fairytale reunion were quickly dashed by a significant obstacle – the release clause embedded in Silva’s Manchester City contract. Currently set at €50 million, the clause is viewed as a major stumbling block. According to one report, Benfica has no interest in matching that price, making a transfer highly unlikely from a financial standpoint.
And now, further clarification has come from journalist Nuno Farinha, speaking to Mais Futebol in comments translated and reported by Sport Witness. Farinha dismissed the swirling rumours, offering a firm rebuttal to earlier claims.
“Our information is exactly the opposite of what was being reported by newspapers. There is no chance, according to our information, that Bernardo Silva will return to Benfica next season,” Farinha said.
While it’s true that Silva has never hidden his admiration for Benfica – and indeed, has expressed a desire to return at some point – that return, Farinha stressed, is not on the cards just yet.
“He still wants to fulfil the remainder of his contract at Manchester City, which runs until 2026,” Farinha explained. “At 30 years old, he feels he still has more to achieve in Europe, and that now is not the time to return to Portugal.”
Interestingly, Farinha revealed that Silva harbours a long-standing ambition to play in Spain – an ambition that came close to becoming reality two seasons ago. At the time, a move to Barcelona was reportedly on the brink of being completed, but City refused to negotiate, insisting the player remain in Manchester.
“Now he intends to see out his contract until 2026,” Farinha added. “After that, he will leave City – that decision has already been made. His next destination, ideally, is Spain. But if Spanish clubs no longer show the same interest they did two years ago, a move to Saudi Arabia could become a serious consideration.”
As Manchester City braces for a crucial summer of transition, their recruitment team will be tasked with striking the right balance between revitalising the squad with promising, younger players while also preserving a core of experienced, battle-tested leaders.
With Kevin De Bruyne set to depart upon the expiration of his contract, the club will lose not only one of their most influential players but also a vital source of leadership on and off the pitch. As such, retaining key figures like Ilkay Gundogan (if he were to return), goalkeeper Ederson, defensive stalwarts Ruben Dias and John Stones, star striker Erling Haaland, and the aforementioned Bernardo Silva will be essential to ensuring continuity and competitiveness during this period of transition.
Ultimately, while the idea of Bernardo Silva donning Benfica colours once again may be an emotional and romantic notion for many fans, all signs currently point to that chapter being deferred for the foreseeable future. For now, Silva remains committed to seeing out his time at the Etihad, with eyes firmly set on Spain as the next major chapter in his storied career.
