Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says he can’t persuade David Silva to stay in the club after the Spaniard’s leading role in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
The 34-year-old will end his 10-year tenure at City this season.
Silva, who has won four Premier League with City since joining in 2010, scored a free kick and prepared Gabriel Jesus for the second time at Etihad Stadium.
“He has decided to leave, he said many times. I think he wants to finish here after 10 seasons,” said Guardiola.
“He’s been in incredible top form since we returned from suspension. He played another extraordinary game and scored another fantastic goal twice in a row.”
“Hopefully he will come back to a farewell game that he more than deserves and he can find a place for the last years of his career.”
Statistics with a Silva feed
- David Silva has had 93 assists since his Premier League debut in August 2010, 29 more than any other player at that time.
- Silva has recorded 10 or more templates in four different seasons, only Christian Eriksen (also four) has achieved this feat in the past decade.
- At 34 and 189 days, Silva is the third oldest player in Premier League history to achieve 10 assists in a single campaign – after Dennis Bergkamp 2004-05 (35 days 263 days) and Paolo Di Canio 2003-04 (35 years 262 ) Days).
- Silva has scored two direct free-kick goals in his last three Premier League games after scoring only once in his first 305 appearances in the competition.
