Bernardo Silva has officially ruled out a summer return to his boyhood club Benfica, despite confirming that the Portuguese giants reached out to explore a potential move from Manchester City.

Speaking to Portuguese channel Canal 11's Soltinhos Pelo Mundo—a program that follows Portuguese footballers playing abroad—the creative midfielder opened up about his future as he prepares for a likely departure from the Premier League champions.

In a teaser released on Friday, Silva admitted he would love to wear the Benfica shirt again one day, but made it clear that now isn't the right time. "I'm not going to Benfica," he stated bluntly. "One thing is certain: I want to return one day. I don't know if, when I want to come back, the club will still want me. There were contacts to understand whether there was any intention."

The Portugal international, known for his silky dribbling and tireless work rate, also revealed he wants his future sorted before the World Cup kicks off, ensuring he can focus entirely on representing his country on the biggest stage. "I want everything sorted between the end of the season and reporting for national team duty because the World Cup is too important for me to be distracted by other things," he explained.

This season, Silva has notched three goals and five assists in 50 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City—a testament to his enduring quality even as his time at the Etihad Stadium appears to be winding down. For fans of the game, his next move will be one of the most intriguing storylines of the summer transfer window.