Bernardo Silva admits that he was tempted by the riches of the Saudi Pro League this summer but reveals he ‘didn’t want to give up’ on competing at the highest level with Manchester City
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- The midfielder has been in top form for the champions so far this season
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Bernardo Silva has admitted he was tempted by the riches of the Saudi Pro League but decided to stay at Manchester City because he ‘didn’t want to give up’ playing at the top level of European football.
The 29-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Gulf state last summer, while also attracting interest from the likes of PSG and Barcelona.
Silva ultimately agreed a new deal that will keep him at the Etihad until 2026, but he has revealed that interest from Saudi Arabia was attractive. However, the chance to continue playing in Europe’s elite competition outweighed the financial incentives on offer.
‘I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it [about the big-money offers from Saudi Arabia].’ He says this in an interview with RTP.
‘What interested me was the heat of playing a UEFA Champions League semi-final and listening to the… [Etihad] stadium went wild after a goal was conceded [Real] Madrid in the semi-finals or when we won the final against Inter. I didn’t want to give that up.’
Bernardo Silva has admitted he was seduced by the riches of the Saudi Pro League
The Portuguese midfielder played a big role in City’s Treble success last season
Thanks to his skills and versatility, the midfielder has become a crucial part of Pep Guardiola’s plans
The versatile midfielder made 55 appearances for City last season, securing a first UEFA Champions League trophy, a fifth Premier League title and a second FA Cup.
The Portugal international also has 82 caps to his name and was a regular during their 2022 FIFA World Cup campaign.
Silva has started this season in impressive form, with three goals and three assists in the Premier League, as City top the table after 12 games.
Pep Guardiola’s side welcome Liverpool to the Etihad in a mouth-watering match as the league returns this weekend.
He has played in each of the last 11 top-flight games against the Reds, scoring twice while providing three assists in four wins for his side.
