One could argue David Silva is one of few foreign players to ever grace the Premier League and it’d be sad news when he calls time on his integrality Manchester City career in two season from now.
Since joining Manchester City back in the summer of 2010, Silva has not only be a legend at the club, but also transformed into one of the league’s all-time great foreign inputs.
A recent poll as collated by BBC Sport saw the Spaniard top list of the Premier League’s greatest ever Spanish players, withthe likes of Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Fernando Torres and David de Gea are below him.
Silva joined the Citizens in a deal believed to worth $50 million from Valencia and played a pivotal role in leading Man City to their first taste of league success under Roberto Mancini in 2011/12 (his second season), while he’s gone on to winning two top-flight trophies, plus three League Cups, one FA Cup, and the club’s recent Community Shield against Chelsea in August.
But now, in an interview with the BBC’s Premier League show, the City’s El Mago has revealed that he’s set a deadline for leaving his beloved City, and also, the club he’s likely to join when he leaves.
He said:
“For City, two more seasons – what’s left on my contract.
“After that, I don’t know. It depends on how I feel physically and mentally. I’ve always said that I’d like to play for Las Palmas – my local team.
“But we’ll see how things go in two years and take it all from there.
“I’d like him (his son Mateo) to grow up where I’m from.
“That’s where I was brought up and I really hope he can have the same opportunities as I’ve had.
“I hope he likes sports and if he gets into football we’ll help him.”
But, before leaving Man City, Silva will be helping the reigning champions become the first to defend the EPL title in 10 years, with Pep Guardiola’s side current sitting 4thwith two points adrift Liverpool who sit 1stwith 12 points after four Premier League fixtures.
That being said, Football Weeks have take a look at a selection of some brilliant players who could fill the void that will be left by Silva when he leaves the club.
Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
Bernardo Silva is one of the reason why City need not to look away from home when there’s already a fit within the ranks. Silva, who also shares same name with David Silva, is expected to be granted more playing role come end of this current season. Silva joined the Premier League giants from AS Monaco in the summer of 2017 and won a Premier League medal in his very fist season with the club.
Should David Silva show any glimpse of drop in performance, Bernardo Silva would likely be City’s first and true replacement to the Spaniard.
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Foden still need nurturing. However, the 18-year-old has to his name a league winner’s medal. He is an incredible English talent that has Manchester City fans drooling. To please City fans, who are concerned about the club’s hefty spending so far on players, and have some amongst their academy players given chances in the team, Foden should be given chance as Silva’s successor as the next potential superstar.
Thank you for all the support throughout the season. Time to enjoy the night, #CHAMPIONS18 ??? pic.twitter.com/WzXEr61kEQ
— David Silva (@21LVA) May 6, 2018
Sergio Canales (Real Betis)
Canales recently signed for Real Betis, but had it been City can lure him to Etihad, he would offer a temporary solution for the club in the future, should an injury befall either David or Bernado Silva.
Canales has been dubbed one of players with strong technicality and mostly he’s brilliant set-pieces goals which many City fans will know as being one David Silva’s great ability.
Furthermore, if the Premier League champions wanted to bat away critics and furious fans who perpetually take aim at the club’s hefty spending so far, Sergio Canales is one of very few players City would need not breaking the bank to sign.
Isco (Real Madrid)
In City’s bid to bat away critics and furious fans who perpetually take aim at the club’s hefty spending so far, the signing of Isco from Real Madrid would be another statement signing and one many critics would hold against the club for long as Isco’s signing wouldn’t come cheap.
Isco on his new contract with the Los Blancos that runs until 2022, has his release clause set at 700 million euros, via Spanish news outlet Marca.
However, if luck be on City side, they could get to sign Isco come end of this season as Madrid have the just on them whether their new manager Julen Lopetegui can replicate the success of Zinedine Zidane in his first season with the club this season.
Should Real Madrid fail in wining any noticeable silverware at the end of the summer, we should see many teams across Europe registering interest in some of their assets in which City could also benefit from.
Isco and Zidane’s relationship at Madrid was a turbulent one but the Spaniard’s performances for Real and Spain when given the nod to come in had always been superb for either side.
Isco has great passing accuracy to best Silva, and his stunning through balls, better finish than his compatriot as well, would make him a marquee signing for City, but joining would only be determined how far Real Madrid’s performance would be under Lopetegui this season.