It might have been a scene from a training session over any of the seven seasons they were teammates. With a change of pace, Bernardo Silva darted past Ilkay Gundogan. This time, it was on the Etihad Stadium pitch. Manchester City captains past and present are two of Pep Guardiola’s favourite ever players, a pair with the technical skills and footballing intellect to appeal to a manager who is both purist and theorist.
“Gundo and Leroy [Sane] are like brothers because the memories we have together are truly special,” reflected Silva. But their return to the Etihad Stadium was for one night only, in the colours of a Galatasaray team who were beaten 2-0. Out of contract in the summer, Silva may soon join them in the ranks of the former City players. “I have an idea [of what will happen], but it's not a good time to speak about it,” said a man Guardiola had declared he wanted to stay forever. “When the time comes, me and the club will announce it and you will know.”
