Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes David Silva will ‘return’ to the Etihad at some point. He never got the sendoff he deserved.
David Silva is all but expected to leave City this summer. Reports say he’s close to joining Lazio ahead of next season.
However, the veteran midfielder did not get a proper sendoff from Manchester City fans. No one’s fault but for the global pandemic.
Since the restart of football, all games in the Premier League and across Europe have taken place behind closed doors.
Silva played his last game at the Etihad in a 5-0 trashing of Norwich. All that was lacking on that occasion was a proper tribute from the fans.
For a player whose arrival coincided with the club’s rise as a force, the 34-year old has his name high in the City record books. The midfielder won 14 trophies during his time at the Etihad, including four Premier League titles.
City boss Guardiola has much respect for Silva and believes the midfielder will still get that tribute he deserves. Pep also expects his compatriot to play a part against Lyon in the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Absolutely he is ready. The way he has trained and the mentality in his training, I am really impressed about his personality,” Guardiola said as quoted by Goal.
“All of us know it was a pity that his last games in the Etihad were without people but he’ll be back. We have said it many times, he will be back – when the crowd and the people are back in the stadium – and he will get what he deserves.”
Since making his debut for City in 2010, David Silva has 434 appearances to his name. In that time, he has scored 77 goals and recorded 93 assists.
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