Bernardo Silva Was Tempted by the Mega Saudi Pro League Offers This Summer But Says He “Didn’t Want to Give Up” Playing at the Highest Level with Manchester City

Bernardo Silva, who is one of the first names on Pep Guardiola’s team sheet this season, has admitted that he was tempted by the riches on offer in the Saudi Pro League but decided to stay put at Man City because he ‘didn’t want to give up’ playing at the highest level in Europe and at Man City.

After helping Man City to wrap up a treble-winning season, the 29-year-old Portuguese international was in demand. While PSG and Barcelona were interested in his services, the mega move from the Saudi Pro League tempted Silva in the summer.

However, his desire to continue playing at the highest level led him to sign a new contract at Man City, keeping him at the Etihad until 2026.

In an interview with RTP, Bernardo Silva said, “I would lie if I said I didn’t think [about the big-money offers from Saudi Arabia.

“What interested me was the heat of playing a UEFA Champions League semi-final, listening to the [Etihad] stadium going wild after scoring against [Real] Madrid in the semi-finals or when we won the final against Inter. I didn’t want to give up on that.”

Bernado’s admission highlights the increasingly strong pulling power of the Saudi Pro League, especially heading into the winter window when Saudi clubs will target high-quality talent.