Manchester City will invite David Silva back to the club for a ‘big farewell’ when fans can attend, Pep Guardiola has said.
The 34-year-old has amassed 423 appearances for City, scoring 73 goals, providing 134 assists and winning four Premier League titles after joining from Valencia in 2010, but is out of contract this summer.
He is set to leave the club at the end of the current campaign as a free agent but none of his remaining fixtures for the club will be played out in front of any fans – meaning that there can be no farewell for the star.
“It is unfortunate David is going to finish his last games here without people,” Guardiola said of Silva’s upcoming departure, as cited by BBC Sport. “No-one wants it but the situation is what it is.”
“These incredible players know exactly what they have done to make this club what it is right now.
“David will stay until the end of the season, then, when everything is returning to normal he will come back and hopefully he can have a big farewell with people.”
Inter Miami and New York City are two clubs who have been linked to the Spaniard, who wants to retire at Las Palmas and had previously been open to a move to the J-League in Japan.
Silva has scored three goals and provided eight assists for Pep Guardiola’s side across 28 appearances this term and Calciomercato recently reported Milan view him as an experienced leader to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic this summer.
According to a report in the Daily Star, Silva has also been offered a two-year contract by Real Betis and is weighing up that alongside proposals from USA – where he has been linked to Inter Miami, owner by David Beckham – and Japan.
Silva’s dream is to retire at his hometown club Las Palmas – who are currently languishing in Spain’s second division.
The playmaker has retired from international duty but won a notable 125 caps for La Roja, scoring 25 goals and winning three major tournaments – winning two European Championship crowns alongside the 2010 World Cup.
A product of Valencia’s youth system, Silva played for Los Che across six seasons and also enjoyed loan spells at Eibar and Celta Vigo.
