‘A career and life goal’ - Bernardo Silva lays out Man City exit plan as reunion wanted

Bernardo Silva has confirmed his desire to return to Benfica before retiring from professional football.

Manchester City signed the 29-year-old from Monaco for around £45million in 2017. The Ligue 1 club snatched Silva two years earlier, giving him a chance to shine both domestically and in the Champions League.

Silva caught City’s eye just months before arriving when Monaco dumped them out of UEFA’s elite competition. His teammates included future stars like Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho, Benjamin Mendy and Thomas Lemar, with Pep Guardiola soon moving for the midfield maestro

Seven years at the Etihad has resulted in Silva becoming a firm fans’ favourite with the City faithful - and a bucketload of silverware. The Portuguese international has won five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.

More trophies could be on the horizon for one of English football’s most mercurial talismen. A brace against Newcastle United at the weekend booked Man City their place in the FA Cup semi-final.

He shows no signs of slowing down but Father Time remains undefeated and, when the day comes, Silva has his sights set on returning home. Speaking to SIC, the midfielder insisted his “career goal” is to represent Benfica again.

"Is it a long time before I return?” Silva told SIC. “I think people are a little tired of that question. There's already more time left. I'm sure I'll be back, I don't know when.

"It's difficult to time it and say if it's in two, three, if it's for the year with Roger Schmidt (laughs). But I've said it several times and I think people get tired of hearing it. Without a doubt, it's a career and life goal to return to Benfica.

"Get me into a difficult position. On the one hand, he asks me to return to Benfica and on the other he asks me to say bad things about Benfica's coach. Imagine that I come back next year and he is my coach? It can't be (laughs)."