At a Glance:
- Arsenal eyeing Bernardo Silva.
- Bernardo is set to leave Manchester City.
- The Manchester City legend already has a future club in mind.
Bernardo Silva, who is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season has surprisingly been linked with a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2026.
Arsenal could potentially be Bernardo’s next destination but it would be a shock to see him play his football at the Emirates Stadium, considering the growing hostility between the Gunners and City.
The Portuguese international is one of Manchester City’s greatest players of all time and if he does end up joining Mikel Arteta’s side, it’s safe to say the move would be deemed controversial.
On Sunday, Bernardo bossed Arsenal’s midfield in the Sky Blues’ 2-1 victory over Arsenal and in the past, he is known to have taunted the North Londoners as well.
Bernardo Silva’s dream move is Benfica return amid Arsenal links
Last season, Bernardo taunted Gabriel Magalhaes by gesturing towards him that he alongside most of his teammates had failed to win a single Premier League.
Bernardo Silva taunting Gabriel during Man City vs. Arsenal 👀 pic.twitter.com/6uHHJmdjgL
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) September 23, 2024
While Erling Haaland played down Arsenal’s rivalry with Manchester City, the former AS Monaco midfielder’s gesture suggests there is bad blood between the two clubs.
Speaking to A Bola in 2023, Bernardo confirmed that his dream is to rejoin Benfica, a claim that might pour cold water over his recent links to Arsenal.
“I’ve never hidden that one day I want to go back, so of course I do. Now, we’ll see over time what’s possible and it’s not worth talking about this all the time, because people get tired…let’s see.”
However, at the time, Bernardo, who recently announced he will leave Manchester City mentioned that a key reason why he was unable to return to his boyhood club is because of the Sky Blues’ asking price.
Thank you @ManCity 💙 pic.twitter.com/yznSiqxiPp
— Bernardo Silva (@BernardoCSilva) April 16, 2026
“You can, now there are contractual issues that have to be respected and… you have to live the reality, that Portuguese football at a financial level cannot compete with English, Spanish or even German and French clubs, therefore….for example, even if I I wanted to go to Benfica at the moment, it was totally impossible because Manchester City is asking for a lot of money for a transfer for me. In the last four or five years.”
“I have been a player valued at over 50 million euros and it is impossible for a Portuguese club to pay that kind of value. People have to be a little realistic.”
Benfica president confirmed Bernardo Silva wants fairytale return
In October 2025, even Benfica president Rui Costa revealed that he is “convinced” about Bernardo’s desire to return to his former side, having played just three games for the club’s first-team.
| Bernardo Silva for Benfica | Stats |
| Appearances | 3 |
| Goals | – |
| Assists | – |
Speaking to SAPO, Costa said: “I’m convinced that if he returns, it will be like Rui Costa returning to Benfica, not to any president. I’ve been through that before.
“When a player is a Benfica supporter and wants to return, he returns for the club, not for the president. He may even think one project is better than another. But I’m absolutely convinced that he wants to be a Benfica player.”
“He never wanted to be the president’s player; he wanted to be the club’s player. And I think Bernardo thinks like me.”
All the signs suggest that Arsenal do not lie in Bernardo’s destiny and that he may be set for a fairytale return to Benfica.
However, as things stand, the 31-year-old is yet to decide where he will prolong his illustrious career.
