Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has admitted that he "has a great admiration" for Portuguese compatriot Jose Mourinho, despite his Manchester United connection.
The 23-year-old is now on the opposite side of the Manchester divide after joining the Citizens from Monaco in the summer for a £43m fee.
Silva has plenty of respect for Mourinho, however, who he believes is worthy of praise due to the numerous trophies and individual accolades won during his time in management.
"Jose Mourinho is a coach who says a lot about Portuguese football, which gives a fantastic dimension to our football," he told A Bola. "He's a person I respect a lot. I met him relatively recently at the airport, we greeted each other and talked for a while.
"He is a rival, obviously, and I want to beat him, but he is a person I respect a lot and for whom I have great admiration for everything he has achieved in football."
Silva has been used sparingly in the Premier League and Champions League under Pep Guardiola, starting a combined three games so far.
Daniel Lewis
