Manchester City midfielder David Silva has confirmed he will leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of next season.
The 33-year-old said he had been offered a two-year deal to stay at the club until 2021, but felt that a decade with the Citizens was the right time to call it a day:
“Ten years for me is enough. It’s the perfect time for me. Initially, City were talking about two years, but I decided to sign [for] another one, so I finished at 10 years.”
“It completes the cycle. It’s a nice round figure. I can never see myself playing against City for another team. So 10 years – that’s it.”
Fans on Twitter have paid tribute to a City legend:
Greatest ever City player, certainly in modern times (in my opinion – albeit almost tied with Serg). Will be sorely missed.
— RyanD2588 (@D2588Ryan) 26 June 2019
hard to say goodbye
— Leon (@freelo123_leon) 26 June 2019
#loyalty ??
— Sadique (@sadiqsadiq2012) 26 June 2019
So much respect for this legend
— Adenrele (@blastedup) 26 June 2019
We dont deserve him
— ? (@disco2thousands) 26 June 2019
— Damian Cummings (@DamianCummings) 26 June 2019
I can’t cope with this already!! ?
— Debs (@DarbyshireDebs) 26 June 2019
I will forever remember you bro David
— tpraise ajibola (@ajibola_tpraise) 26 June 2019
Will be one of the saddest moment football wise. But ever great story comes to an end. What David has done for this club and to us is immense. Best playmaker in premier league
— Jay Perera (@jay89_perera) 26 June 2019
I’ve been dreading this day
— 3Inch tickleBOSS ☘︎◉ (@neildon007) 25 June 2019
During his time at City, Silva has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups. He will be hoping to add to that collection in his final campaign with the club.
The Spaniard has 396 appearances for the Manchester club, and will likely be close to 450 before he leaves.
For many supporters, it will be an end of an era, a period which has been the most successful in the club’s history, and much of that has been down to the Spanish magician.
