Bernardo: It'd be 'career & life goal' to finish playing football AWAY from City

Bernardo Silva has told fans where it would be a 'career and life goal' to finish playing football - and it's not at Manchester City.

The Portugal star has been one of City's key players since joining in 2017 and his contract expires in 2026.

Back in September, he inked a one-year extension to his deal, but now he has admitted he could leave as early as 'next year'.

Silva was talking about a triumphant return to Benfica, the club where he began his career and has long harboured the ambition to reunite with.

'How far am I from returning? I think people are a bit tired of that question. It's been a long time,' he told SIC, via SAPO Desporto.

'I'm sure I'll be back, I don't know when, it's hard to time it and say if it's in two years' time, in three years' time, if it's next year with [current Benfica boss] Roger Schmidt [laughs].

'But I've said it several times and I think people get tired of hearing it: without a doubt it's a career and life goal to return to Benfica.'

While Silva has spoken about it multiple times, what's different this time is the sense of urgency.

At another point in the interview, Silva imagines a situation where 'I come back next year and he [Roger Schmidt, the current boss] is my coach.'

While the 29-year-old has clearly left his options open and could be at City for years to come, it does show his fondness for Benfica.

He only made three senior appearances for them before Monaco snatched him up.

The playmaker went on to spend three seasons with Monaco, winning the Ligue 1 title and reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in his final season.

City splashed a reported £43.5million on him in the summer of 2017 and he has cemented his place as one of the best players in the world with them.

A haul of nine goals and five assists this campaign has once again testified to his influence from midfield.

After Man City's 2-0 win over Leicester in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, P{ep Guardiola said: 'Everybody loves him. He is really important for us and that he stays is really, really important.'