Pep Lijnders, assistant to coach Pep Guardiola, announced that the Portuguese star Bernardo Silva will leave the club at the end of the current season, after his contract expires, becoming a free agent next June.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Bernardo Silva has informed the English club of his departure in the summer, while the player wishes to decide his next destination before the World Cup starts, seeking a new challenge in his football career.

Pep Lijnders said in a press conference: "Silva cannot be replaced by a player of the same type; it's hard to find a player like him. He is unique; his way of controlling matches, his movements, his ball reception, his leadership of the team, and his ability to find solutions are all distinctive qualities."

He added: "We are looking for the right player who grows with the team, a player who integrates with the main lineup, and then we hope that our academy players and the young players who have joined us can achieve the same progress in midfield."

He continued: "Looking at our young players in the academy, we find that they need to develop and grow, but the most important thing is for the veteran players to stay for a long time, their stay, their stay, their stay. The core team is there, and we can build on it."

He concluded: "It will be difficult to replace Silva, because in matches when he doesn't play, you will notice how much we miss him, and that's just one game, imagine the entire season."