portugal international bernardo silva (31) made his last competitive start for manchester city against aston villa in the premier league’s concluding fixture, receiving an emotional farewell from both teammates and rivals alike. as he was substituted in the 62nd minute, the 38,000-strong crowd rose to their feet, chanting his name in a heartfelt tribute to his nine-year stint at the club.
silva’s departure was made all the more poignant as he embraced pep guardiola, the man who had nurtured his talent since 2017. the spanish manager, who is also leaving manchester city after a decade in charge, was visibly moved, sharing a tearful hug with the departing midfielder. together, silva and guardiola leave behind a legacy of 460 appearances, 76 goals, and 77 assists for the sky blues.
minutes later, england defender john stones – another club legend exiting at the season’s end – was similarly honored with a guard of honor as he left the pitch in the 77th minute. stones, who joined city in 2016 alongside guardiola, brought an end to his eight-year tenure with the same emotional send-off.