Dias says Man City need players like Silva to continue collecting trophies
Ruben Dias hopes Bernardo Silva will stay at Manchester City beyond this summer, praising the intelligence of his teammate as well as his versatility.
Midfielder Silva has been the subject of repeated bids and speculation for the past three summer transfer windows but remains at the club he joined from Monaco in 2017.
Dias, 26, has a special bond with Silva, as part of both City’s success as well as with their national team Portugal
The defender hopes that history doesn’t repeat itself this summer and that Silva will remain at City for the long term – Silva signed a contract extension to 2026 last September – where he is on course to cement his place as one of the club’s greatest of the modern era.
“At a certain moment last summer I thought he might go but I always tell him that every summer we have this series which is called ‘Bernardo is going nowhere’,” Dias told
The National. “This is the third summer since I have been here and there is a new episode every year. I was really happy when he signed because, if you want to win trophies, Bernardo is exactly the kind of player you need around you.
“It’s unfair for me to say how good he is because I am his fellow Portuguese and we have a special connection. But that aside he is a key player for us because, first of all, how intelligent he is. Due to the fact that he is so funny, people might think one thing or another about him but when times get rough he is always there.
“You can count on him. He has great qualities. He can play in so many different positions. He can remedy so many problems a team might have.”
Dias, 26, has a special bond with Silva, as part of City’s success as well as with their national team Portugal
Silva showed his importance again on Tuesday, applying a deft finish to restore City’s lead in a 3-1 away victory against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League last 16.
The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s side in pole position to advance to the quarter-finals where they hope to go on and defend their crown.
“He is a big personality in the dressing room,” Dias added of Silva.
“He has been a big footballer for a very long time. Sometimes people forget about that. The players know but maybe he is a little underrated. He’s not too dissimilar to Ilkay Gundogan when he was here.
“Other players may get a lot of headlines but Bernardo is always there. The players with the assists and the goals will always get the biggest praise. That’s the way it works.
“But when you analyse why we have been winning so much over the past few years, Bernardo’s name will be there.”
Dias admits if he moved he would also miss the special bond he and his teammates have forged after winning so many trophies.
“I do have a feeling that in this club you get the player and the personality that comes with it as well,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s by chance and it does make a big difference because, when these tough moments come, you know that you are going to have personalities next to you and, when you are talking about semi-finals and finals and decisive moments, the character is the one thing that will make you move forward and win things.”