Pep Guardiola has hailed his Manchester City playmaker David Silva as a “European great” and one of the finest footballers to grace the Premier League.
Spain international Silva told the Mirror this week that next season will be his last at City, completing 10 glittering years in which the has won (so far!) four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and four League Cups.
The 33-year-old is regarded by his peers and fans as one of the most gifted players of the Premier League era, with Guardiola acknowledging the brilliance of the player nicknamed ‘El Mago’ – the magician.
Guardiola admitted Silva’s departure will leave a huge void at City and paid tribute to him when he said: “We have to enjoy him in the year that he has left.
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“He has been one of the greats not only in Spanish football, but in European football as well. He has played for 10 years in Manchester and it is not easy to perform in that league for someone with his qualities. He has done incredibly well.”
Silva, who has played 396 times for City in all competitions, scoring 71 goals, played a key role in last season’s historic capture of the domestic treble.
Guardiola added: “He helped me personally, he has helped us a lot in these three years we have been together. We have another year more and I hope we can live another good year together.”
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Former Rangers striker and manager, Ally McCoist, hailed Silva as one of the greatest foreign players to grace the English game.
“He’s definitely one of the best foreign imports in the Premier League, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that,” said McCoist. “He’s just an absolutely magical wee footballer. He’s very comfortable on the ball, always seems to have a little bit of space, he makes things happen. He sees it, he really sees it.
“His vision and awareness of people around him, his opposition and his own team is fantastic. He’s just got a great football brain. It’s no coincidence a talent like that has achieved what he has achieved in the game. The Premier League won’t be a better place without him.”
