bernardo silva’s final appearance in a manchester city shirt was nothing short of emotional. in the 38th and concluding match of the premier league season against aston villa, the 31-year-old was given a hero’s send-off before the hour mark. as he walked off the pitch to be replaced by mateo kovacic, the entire etihad stadium erupted in applause, paying tribute to a player who had given his all for nine unforgettable seasons.

overwhelmed by the moment, silva took a moment to personally thank his teammates on the field. he then made his way through a guard of honour formed by both city players and aston villa’s squad. the emotional climax came when he embraced a visibly tearful pep guardiola, the manager who had guided the club since 2016 and who would also depart after the match.

bernardo silva leaves manchester city having made 460 appearances, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists during his tenure. his contributions have left an indelible mark on the club’s history, and his farewell was met with a level of respect and emotion rarely seen in modern football.

just 18 minutes later, fellow departing player john stones also received a special send-off. the england defender, who joined city in 2016 alongside guardiola, was given the same honour as he left the pitch in the 77th minute.