Bernardo Silva breaks silence on transfer interest and staying at Man City

Bernardo Silva is ready to give his heart and lungs to Manchester City again after a summer move away failed to materialise.

The Portugal star has been the subject of strong interest from a number of clubs this year, with Catalan giants Barcelona most vocal about signing the player as part of their financial gamble to start winning trophies again. Having wanted to leave the Etihad last summer after a year of living in lockdown in Manchester, Bernardo was happier this time but still open to a move.

As he stopped to speak to reporters after the Forest match to confirm he was staying, he explained that wanting another challenge was no slight on the current situation. The transfer window ends with Bernardo grateful to Pep Guardiola and the club for respecting his wishes, and the club grateful to the player for taking it graciously when an offer that would have allowed him to leave without scuppering City's plans didn't arrive.

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"I'm from Portugal and my culture is a bit different from your culture off the pitch," he said. "I love Manchester and people are really nice here the way they have treated me in the streets, bars, restaurants — it is just a bit different from where I'm from and sometimes you want different things in your life.

"It's nothing to do with how nice the people are here and how good the football club is here, and how happy I am to be staying. It wasn't a tough decision because there were no offers.

"There was one offer from one team, no more than that, so it was quite easy for me and for the club because the only offer that came came quite late so for the club to find a replacement it wouldn't be easy. I'm very happy here as