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Outgoing Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva was reduced to tears as he led his side out for one last time on Sunday.
Silva, 31, will leave City after nine years at the club after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa, and entered the field alongside daughter Carlota, and wife, Ines, for the final time.
As he prepared to walk out, he was consoled by opposing captain Tyrone Mings, as well as City goalkeeper James Trafford, who gave him a hug from behind.
Silva took over the armband this season and has been an integral component of the rise in standards across Pep Guardiola’s squad after last year’s dip.
The Portugal international made it clear to reporters at the Club World Cup last June that this would be his final campaign but had stopped short of making an official announcement.
The 31-year-old, who believes it is too early for a return to Benfica, has options in MLS while Juventus have hoped to persuade him into signing.
Bernardo Silva struggled to fight b ack the tears as he led Manchester City out for the final time
Barcelona are long-standing admirers, with Silva’s friend Ilkay Gundogan at Galatasaray.
Despite spending nine years at the Etihad Stadium, Silva has not always jived with English culture and recently admitted that were City stationed in southern Europe, he would stay until being ‘kicked out’.
Silva admitted: ‘If Manchester City was in Lisbon, I’d stay until I’m 40. I truly love the football club, my team-mates, staff, fans, stadium, atmosphere – everything about my professional life.
He was hoping to win a seventh Premier League title in City colours before his departure, but his side came up short against Arsenal.
City were also waving goodbye to John Stones, who has been at the club for a decade, and Pep Guardiola, who called time on his decade-long spell as City manager this week.
