Bernardo Silva's departure from Manchester City has been described as "a big surprise" by his former youth coach, Renato Paiva, who believes the Portuguese midfielder will continue to shine at the highest level of football.
The 31-year-old is set to leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires this summer, bringing an end to a nine-year spell that has seen him become one of the most decorated players in the club's history. Paiva, who coached Silva during his time in Benfica's youth system, expects the playmaker to have his pick of Europe's elite clubs.
"I don't believe Bernardo will leave the big three or the big five leagues," Paiva told BBC Sport. "I'm surprised he is leaving. He has one of the best world coaches in Pep Guardiola, if not the best. A club like Manchester City is always fighting for titles, and the conditions are very high to work. He has his reasons, but for me, it is a big surprise."
Silva's numbers at City speak for themselves. Since joining from Monaco, the Portugal international has scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists in 451 appearances. His trophy cabinet is equally impressive, boasting 15 major honors—including the historic Treble in the 2022-23 season. With the Carabao Cup already secured this March, he could still add the Premier League and FA Cup to his collection before he departs.
Paiva, now a former Botafogo boss, fondly recalled Silva's early days. "It is one of the best histories in modern football. At eight, nine, 10 years old, he was very skinny, but at every tournament we went to, he was the best player. I told him he had to make his house bigger because there would not be enough space to put so many trophies."
What set Silva apart even as a child, Paiva explained, was his extraordinary game intelligence. "If you watched the games, you would see all the tall and strong guys and a skinny guy, not so high. This guy was always playing. What are the qualities this guy has to play against these giants? The way he understands the game, the game awareness, the way he analyses the game always allows Bernardo to take very good decisions. Usually, the ball leaves his feet with a good decision, since eight, nine, or 10 years old. He was a very good player, and for me, the most important was his game insight."
As Silva prepares for his next chapter, one thing is certain: wherever he lands, he'll bring that same vision, creativity, and winning mentality that made him a City legend.