Manchester City and former Benfica academy player Bernardo Silva has expressed his desire to one day return to the club that still has his heart before he retires. Bernardo spent 12 years as a member of Benfica's youth system, first joining at the tender age of seven. Benfica moved Bernardo to Monaco in 2014 on loan with the attacking midfielder appearing in only three games for Benfica's main squad across all competitions before the loan. Monaco made the move permanent at the end of the 2014/15 season, with Benfica receiving €15.75M for the players rights.
Bernardo went on to win the French Ligue 1 title with Monaco ending PSG's dominance of the Ligue 1 crown and his performances earned him a move to Manchester City during the summer of 2017 for €50M were he has become an important member of Pep Guardiola's squad. Bernardo though still wants to fulfill a child home dream to play a season for Benfica before his career ends and on his own terms, which he is sure to accomplish without worrying about the club's manager trying to convert him to a left back. I am sure a move back to Benfica would not only please Bernardo but the Benfica supporters as well.
Manchester City had Benfica youngster Florentino Luis on it's short list of players that they wanted to acquire to replace an aging Fernandinho. Pep's Man City side inquired about what it would take to acquire Florentino from Benfica before the close of the English league transfer window but Benfica's move to increase the 20 year old defensive midfielders buy out clause to €120M put off any deal being reached at this time for the promising youngster. Benfica are hoping to striker gold with Florentino as they did earlier this summer with forward Joao Felix and his appearances as a member of the starting eleven will have many team scouts watching his every move.
Benfica continued their perfect run to start the season with a 2-0 win over Belenenses away from home at Jamor. Benfica faced a strong defending Belenenses squad in the smaller Lisbon derby and needed two second half goals to earn the victory. Benfica opened the scoring with an early second half goal from Rafa Silva set up by a Pizzi back heel and then Rafa returned the favour, assisting on Pizzi's extra time goal. The tandem have been spectacular to start the season and Benfica managed to earn their second consecutive clean sheet to start the season. Next up for Benfica will be "O Classico" against FC Porto at the Estadio da Luz on August 24.
