Man City Veteran Targeting Spain Move Amid Exit Rumours | OneFootball

Bernardo Silva Set to Depart Man City as Guardiola Plots Summer Overhaul

Winds of Change at the Etihad

For all of Manchester City’s modern brilliance, there is a certain inevitability to transition. According to Football Insider, Bernardo Silva appears ready to bid farewell to the Etihad in the summer, as Pep Guardiola begins to prepare for what could be a significant reshaping of his title-winning squad.

Silva, now 30, has lifted every domestic trophy during his spell in Manchester and is reportedly keen on seeking a new challenge. As former Manchester United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown stated, “I think at this stage, Bernardo Silva has done all he can and won all there is to win with City.”

Photo IMAGO

Brown, whose network within football remains extensive, noted that Silva’s preference is to step away from the Premier League’s intensity and embrace the more measured tempo of La Liga. “He’s still a top player and a wonderful talent, but perhaps his City career has come to an end.”

Mirror Image of Silva’s Namesake

The parallels with David Silva’s exit are clear. Brown pointed out the likeness: “It’s happened with plenty of players in the past. With David Silva for example, he went back to Spain while he was still a regular for City.”

Photo IMAGO

That decision allowed the former playmaker to extend his career away from the spotlight and relentless demands of the English top flight — a move that now appears to resonate with Bernardo.

Silva’s blend of technical precision and tactical discipline has made him integral to Guardiola’s evolving systems. But with murmurs of Spanish, Portuguese and Saudi interest intensifying, the expectation is that offers will arrive quickly when the window opens.

Guardiola’s Rebuild Takes Shape

Silva’s potential exit forms just part of a broader picture. As Football Insider also revealed, up to six first-team players could be on their way out this summer, with Pep Guardiola aiming to refresh a group that has delivered sustained success.

Photo: IMAGO

Kevin De Bruyne has been linked with a move to MLS, while the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Rodri also carry uncertainty. Mateo Kovacic, who arrived to bolster midfield depth, is another who may be moved on.

Photo: IMAGO

Despite spending £180million in January on the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez, City show no signs of slowing their recruitment drive. The club appears to be positioning itself not only for continued domestic dominance but for another European push.

Timing Feels Right

What’s clear is that Silva is not being pushed out. Rather, this is a player who has scaled the highest peaks in English football and now seeks a different type of challenge. “So now he wants to leave and go back to a league like La Liga, where there’s less physical demand, a slower tempo to the game,” Brown explained.

Photo: IMAGO

City will lose a consummate professional, a player whose quiet influence helped fuel their most historic moments — but no dynasty lasts without evolution.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

It’s never easy seeing players like Bernardo Silva consider leaving, but this feels like the right time. He’s been a key cog in everything City have built – from the centurion season to the treble – but you can sense he’s looking for something different now.

They’ve asked a lot of him over the years. He’s played central, wide, deep – always sacrificing himself for the system. The link with La Liga makes perfect sense. A slower tempo, technical style, and less pressing intensity could add years to his career.

This is also Guardiola staying one step ahead. You don’t rebuild when things collapse; you refresh while you’re still on top. If six or seven players do go, and Silva is one of them, it’s a risk — but the kind of calculated risk City take to stay ahead of the chasing pack.