Arjun Menon
Bernardo Silva: A Journey Through Football and Life
Bernardo Silva, the Portugal midfielder who has played over 400 games under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, recently sat down with Kelly Somers for an in-depth conversation. Their chat covered everything from his early days in football to his dreams of winning the World Cup, and even his pets.
Early Days and Family Influences
Silva’s passion for football began at home. “It was always my passion,” he said. “Since I remember, I always had the ball with me at home, even when my mum was a bit upset at my dad because I would break a few paintings or jars or whatever.” His family, though divided in their club loyalties his dad supporting Benfica and his mum backing Sporting was always supportive.
Silva spent 12 years at Benfica, from the age of seven to 19. “I’m a Benfica fan,” he admitted. “Benfica is the biggest club in Portugal. I would go to Benfica games with my dad. Since I was a little boy, it was always my dream to be there to play for that club.”
Career Influences and Standout Moments
When asked about the biggest influences on his career, Silva highlighted both Benfica and Manchester City. “Benfica shaped me from when I was seven until 19. They gave me not only the football knowledge as a player, but also they shaped me a little bit as a man,” he said. At Monaco, he found a mentor in Joao Moutinho, and at City, he learned from legends like Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Fernandinho.
Silva also shared his thoughts on playing under Guardiola. “The influence from Pep on me is massive. Nine years and I learned a lot,” he said. He recalled Guardiola’s intense post-match discussions, which often focus on small details rather than complaints.
Memorable Matches and Tough Moments
Silva’s standout match was the 2023 Champions League final, where City beat Inter Milan 1-0. However, he also remembered tough moments, like the 2021 Champions League final loss to Chelsea and the heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Real Madrid in 2022.
Life Beyond Football
Off the pitch, Silva is a family man. He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, and his ideal day off involves walking his dogs, John and Charles. “John is named after John Stones, and Charles is named after Prince Charles,” he revealed.
When asked about his future, Silva admitted he’s unsure what he would do if he wasn’t a footballer. “I actually have no clue what I would do if I wasn’t a football player. I never had the chance to explore hidden talents because I dedicated my life to football,” he said.
“I don’t know. It’s a very difficult question. I would love to know, because when I finish football, if I don’t want to stay in the game, I want to do something. I don’t want to stop, so that’s a very good question. I’m still going to try to find that out when I finish my career.”
Silva’s journey is a testament to his dedication and passion for the sport. As he continues to strive for success with Manchester City and the Portugal national team, fans can look forward to more memorable moments from this talented midfielder.
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