Manchester City's Bernardo Silva reiterates desire "to return to Benfica"

The 29-year-old has established himself as an integral cog in Pep Guardiola's side over the last six-and-a-half years since joining the Citizens from Monaco in the summer of 2017.

Bernardo has made a total of 319 appearances for Man City across all competitions, scoring 58 goals and registering 62 assists whilst playing in a variety of midfield and attacking positions.

The Portugal international has won 14 trophies as a Citizens player, lifting five Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields and one Champions League.

However, Bernardo admitted in January that he is keen to seek pastures new and begin a "new project" away from the Etihad Stadium.

"I won't hide that my goal in the coming years, if something good happens elsewhere, will probably be to move to a new project," Bernardo told Record.

"If you ask me: what did you think 10 years ago? My goal was to return to Benfica at the age of 32 at the most. What do I think today? It depends on what happens next summer.

"I'm not going to lie, it's not something I don't think about. I think about it every year. It has always been a goal."

The playmaker was strongly linked with a summer exit from Man City, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and clubs in Saudi Arabia all credited with an interest.

A summer departure ultimately failed to materialise for Bernardo as Man City were allegedly unwilling to lower their £75m valuation of their No.20, who ended up signing a new three-year deal with the Citizens until June 2026.

Bernardo's long-term future with the treble winners remains uncertain, though, and the playmaker has since provided a fresh hint to suggest that an exit from Man City is not too far around the corner.

"I want to return to Benfica," Bernardo told CNN Portgual. "If the club wants me at the time, obviously things will happen."

"I was incapable of playing for FC Porto or Sporting [Lisbon]," he added. "It's not going to happen."

Born in Lisbon, Bernardo joined Benfica at the age of eight and spent 11 years in the club's youth system before making his professional debut in 2013.

However, Bernardo seemingly has unfinished business at his boyhood club as he only made three senior appearances for the Eagles before moving to Monaco in 2015.