Bernardo Silva’s Man City exit next summer may have been decided thanks to 2018 comments

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Jose Mourinho’s appointment at Benfica sees his career go full circle, taking the Portuguese back to the club he first managed 25 years ago.

‘Who says no to Benfica?’ was Mourinho’s comment to waiting journalists as he arrived for talks in Lisbon this week. He was sacked at Fenerbahce last month and replaces Bruno Lage – who lost his job after losing to Qarabag in the Champions League.

Mourinho’s return to management in Portugal for the first time since leaving Porto in 2004 promises to be box office, and he will inherit a talented squad who narrowly missed out on the Primeira Liga title to Sporting last term.

The first task will be to reclaim the title for Benfica, who last won it in 2023, and then it will be to build a squad capable of going again in 2027. To do that, he could lure Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva to the Estadio da Luz.

Bernardo Silva could be tempted back to Benfica to work with Jose Mourinho

Bernardo Silva has made no secret of his long-term ambition to return to boyhood club Benfica before he retires.

Bernardo came through the youth academy at Benfica but only made one senior appearance before joining Monaco in 2014 where he emerged as one of Europe’s brightest talents. He joined Manchester City in 2017, and has won everything with the Blues.

Now appointed City captain, Bernardo is out of contract at the end of the current season. In the past, he has asked to leave to be closer to home, and has repeatedly stated he wants to play for Benfica again before he retires.

So could a return be more likely now Mourinho is in charge at Bernardo’s hometown club?

Bernardo Silva spoke of admiration for Jose Mourinho in 2018 despite being Manchester rivals

Bernardo has embraced his role at Manchester City, often winding up rivals and fighting for the sky blue cause. However even when Jose Mourinho was managing bitter rivals Manchester United, Bernardo spoke of his admiration for his compatriot.

Speaking to the Mirror in 2018, Bernardo said: “Mourinho represents our country in a very good way. It’s good for us, as a small country, that we have people like Cristiano Ronaldo and Mourinho representing us at a high level.”

He continued: “I am like all Portuguese people in that I admire Mourinho a lot,” before warning that defeat for United against City that week would spell the end of Mourinho’s title hopes.

So with Bernardo’s future uncertain at City, and a new lure of a sensational link-up with Mourinho, could the 31-year-old get his dream move to Benfica next summer after all?