Pep Guardiola: 'Bernardo Silva has long Manchester City future'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said that Bernardo Silva will stay at the club for at least as long as he remains manager.

The form of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane saw first-team opportunities limited for Silva earlier in the campaign, but an injury to Sane opened the door for the 23-year-old to stake a claim for a more regular place in the side.

Bernardo has now started each of City's last six games across all competitions, and Guardiola has been impressed with his contributions during that spell.

"When he played he's played top. He's a young guy, he's a guy in the locker room who we are so happy to have here," Guardiola is quoted as saying by the Manchester Evening News.

"He'll stay a long time, while I'm here he will not move on, he will stay with me. I haven't seen him sad, even for one day - always in a good mood, and you cannot imagine how important that is.

"When he didn't play too much, you cannot imagine how important he is in the locker room and he's this kind of guy, his mood is always in the right place."

Despite his relative lack of starting opportunities, Silva has been involved in 39 of City's 41 games this season - more than any other player at the club.