Bernardo Silva: "In Portugal I only play for Benfica"

The body is in England, but the heart is (and always will be) at Luz. Bernardo Silva plays for Manchester City, but he does not forget Benfica for a single moment.

The offensive-midfielder, in an interviewed "A Bola" newspaper,  speaks of  possible return, remembering the spell at Caixa Futebol Campus, he praises Ederson and Lindelöf, claims to have an excellent relationship with Luís Filipe Vieira and gives credit to a coach, Rui Vitória, who won two league titles in two years.

“I already told several times that one day I would like to return to Benfica. We never know what will happen, people are aware that in this moment and in a near future it won’t be easy, but Benfica is a club for which I have a lot of affection. I spent 12 year there and who knows if someday I can return ”, he said.

The relationship of Bernardo Silva with the Benfica Supporters is very strong and many fans asked him to return to Benfica. 

“When I return to Portugal and I find Benfica's supporters in the street they always talk about Benfica and ask me when I will return. Rui Costa was a different situation because he played for the first team several times, I didn't play so often, but in a way there are similarities because I feel the Benfica fans would like to see me return one”, he revealed.

“I can’t' promise that one day I'll return to Benfica, because I’m not 100 per cent sure, but I’m sure I will never play for Sporting or FC Porto. They are two big clubs in Portugal, but I have a 12-year history at Benfica. It wouldn't feel right to play for Sporting or FC Porto”, assured Bernardo Silva.

In 2014, with Monaco jersey, he played against Benfica for the first time in his career, something that was special after all those years in the club.

"It's been 12 years. Entering a game against Benfica is not the same as entering against Leverkusen, Zenit or any other team. It was special to face Benfica, "he said.

What if I score against Benfica? Bernardo Silva does not know if he will cry like Rui Costa, but he will not celebrate.

"Rui Costa cried, didn’t he? If I score to Benfica I will not cry, but obviously I will not celebrate the goal. I'm still a Benfica player today, I have a great history with the club and a great respect for the fans and the people who supported me in the 12 years I've been there, "he said.

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT LUÍS FILIPE VIEIRA

“I have always had and will continue to have a good relationship with the president of Benfica, regardless of what came out just a short time ago. It was a person who always believed in me and who helped me”, he assured.

THE DEBUT FOR BENFICA'S FIRST TEAM

After 12 years in Benfica's academy, he made his debut for Benfica's first team. It was in 2013/14 in the Portuguese Cup.

“Yes, I remember. It was in Cinfães, for the Portuguese Cup. I played around 10 minutes. It was a special moment because I've always been a Benfica fan and I have dreamt of playing for the first team of Benfica since I was little”, he said and then brought up that same season he played in a "clássico": “I remember very well. It was at Dragão, in the last round, o Benfica had already won the title. I played around ten minutes as well. It was great.”

THE RELATIONSHIP WITH EDERSON AND LINDELÖF

In the Premier League, Bernardo Silva found two names he knows very well from his spell at Benfica: Ederson and Lindelöf. They are both in Manchester. One is a teammate of the Portuguese, other is a rival.

“Ederson is a year older than me, he is from 1993, I am from 1994. We were never in the same team, but we share the same dressing room several times and we trained together many times. He also spent a lot of time at Benfica, it is a special club for him and it is a topic of conversation between us", he revealed.

On the other half of Manchester isLindelöf, defender who played with Bernardo Silva at Caixa Futebol Campus and who earned praises.

“I know Lindelöf very well because I played with him in my second year in Benfica's U-19 team and in the B team. He is a friend. Victor is a player with a lot of quality, who likes to have the ball, which is aggressive defending. In the more defensive positions here in England the adaptation takes longer because it is a very aggressive and tough football. I hope things go well for him because he's a great player and a person I admire a lot”, he explained.

REMEMBERING THE YOUTH TRAINING AT BENFICA

He arrived at his favorite club in 2002 and remained there until 2014, when he transferred to Monaco.

“In the youth teams I have always played as an offensive-midfielder, as a number 10. When I got to the U-17 and U-19 teams I continued playing as offensive-midfielder, but I gradually began playing on the flanks and I have always preferred to play on the right. Nowadays I play more often on the right, but I like both positions”, he said.

For the young player, the current administrator of Benfica's SAD, Rui Costa, is a reference, but there are others: “For playing at Benfica and for being a Benfica fan I always had Rui Costa as a reference. At international level, Zidane and Iniesta.”

Today, with 23 years, all seems to go well for the Portuguese international, but it wasn't always like that…

“From 12 to 16 was a complicated phase because they are ages when it makes a lot of difference being bigger. In my case the physical difference was noticeable. It was only in my second year in the U-19 team, that I began playing more and that was the turning point. I was 18 years of, if I’m not mistaken”, he remembered.

OPINION ABOUT RUI VITÓRIA

He never has been coached by Rui Vitória, but we follows the club. Despite not having fixed opinion, he sees work in the achievement of the recent years. 

“I speak with my teammates in the National team and I know what people think. In two years, Rui Vitória won two league titles, so he must be doing something right, but I don't have a fixed opinion”, he concluded.

Text: Marco Rebelo