According to SER, David Silva revealed in a podcast that after winning the 2008 European Championship, Txiki Begiristain, then Barcelona's sporting director, called to invite him to join, but Valencia refused to sell the player at the time.
David Silva was and remains one of football's legends. The Canary Islander has had a memorable career, both at Manchester City – where he won 14 major trophies – and with the Spanish national team – where he won one World Cup and two European Championships. Now, three years after retiring, he is putting his boots back on and joining Hong Kong Premier League team Shatin.
The midfielder revealed on the podcast "El Camino de Mario," hosted by Mario Suárez, that he was very close to wearing the Barcelona jersey: "In 2008, Txiki (Begiristain, former sporting director) called me. We had just won the European Championship with the national team. He was at Barcelona then." Silva grew up in Valencia's youth academy, joining at age 14, and only moved to England after Valencia refused to sell him in 2008.
"Going to Manchester City was the best decision."
"At that time, Valencia wasn't selling players. Later, they had financial problems and sold me and 'Guaje' Villa," the 2010 World Cup winner continued. He already knew then that he would eventually move to England: "The best decision was going to Manchester City, where I spent a wonderful decade, and people treated me very well."
"There were always rumors, like Real Madrid being interested in me. After returning from South Africa, the goal was to go to Manchester City. By November, Mancini was already calling me, contacting me frequently. He was very interested," the Spanish player said. Ten years with the Sky Blues – a decade that made him a legend of the English club, because the "Magician" left an indelible mark on football—not just Spanish football, but English football too. He scored 77 goals in 436 appearances and won 14 major trophies.
Furthermore, when Silva joined Manchester City, the club's situation was completely different from what it is today. For him, "playing 125 games for the national team is incredible," but "playing for Manchester City is equally incredible, because Manchester City was not what it is today back then."
Now, at 40 years old, he is returning to the pitch. Three years ago, he retired in San Sebastián due to a serious knee injury while at Real Sociedad. Hong Kong Premier League team Shatin is where Silva will attempt to rekindle the magic that once filled audiences with anticipation.
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