PEP LIJNDERS has confirmed ‘irreplaceable’ skipper Bernardo Silva is into his final few weeks at Manchester City.
And he hopes Pep Guardiola and the rest of the Etihad squad can give the Portugal international a fitting farewell after nine incredible seasons.
Silva said at the Club World Cup last summer that this was likely to be his final campaign in England – with his contract due to expire in June.
Since then the 31-year-old, who earns a reported £300,000 a week, has stopped short of confirming his exit – while the club insist there has been no official word from their captain.
However Guardiola’s No2 did media duties after the FA Cup win over Liverpool on Saturday – with the boss serving a touchline ban.
Asked how the club will cope without the former Monaco man, Lijnders said: “It will be hard – Bernardo Silva is unique.
“You never replace a player like that with the same kind of player because they don’t exist.
“In a game when he is not playing you can see how he is missed and that’s one game. Imagine a season!
“With these type of players, when they are not playing, you feel it because they are so, so good.
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“But every good story comes to an end, and I hope he enjoys the last months – well, there are only six weeks – and has a good farewell.
“He deserves all that attention as well.
Silva has previously said he wants to finish his career with boyhood club Benfica – although he is interested in another move before then.
Barcelona are keen – particularly as he will be a free agent – and the chance to move closer to his homeland appeals to Silva and his family.
A move to southern Europe is believed to be most likely – although there could also be lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.
City are weighing up a move for England midfielder Elliott Anderson as they look to fill the gap which the £43 million ace will leave.
But Lijnders said: “Instead of searching for a replacement, you search for what is needed to grow with the team and somebody who can fit in the first XI.
“And then you hope, with our academy, with the young players we already bought that they can make that step as well in the midfield positions.
“With Bernardo it’s the way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions. All these things.
