Benfica presidential hopeful says Bernardo Silva contract ready as Manchester City exit looms

Benfica presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes said he has a contract ready for Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva and intends to try to sign him in January, placing the Portugal international at the centre of the Lisbon club’s run-up to its autumn vote.

Noronha Lopes made the claim on Thursday as he laid out elements of his manifesto ahead of Benfica members going to the polls next month. "I can confirm that a contract is waiting for Bernardo Silva," Noronha Lopes told reporters. "And I really want to bring him in in January. He embodies everything I want for Benfica: identity, a winning culture, and he's a true Benfica fan. And I can assure you that we won't stop here."

Silva, 31, is in the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has hinted this summer that he would not sign a further deal, making a move next year likely. The midfielder left Benfica in 2014 after failing to break into the first team under then-coach Jorge Jesus and has been linked in recent seasons with moves to clubs in Spain and France.

Sources and public reporting in recent transfer windows show interest from several clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain among the most prominent suitors, although Benfica’s presidential hopeful acknowledged the practical difficulties of a mid-season transfer. Club-to-club negotiations, City’s valuation and Silva’s own preferences are likely to shape any outcome, and Noronha Lopes’ plan remains contingent on the result of the election and subsequent board authority.

Benfica’s presidential vote is scheduled for October, when members will decide on a new club president. Noronha Lopes is among the leading candidates and has used high-profile transfer pledges as part of his campaign to rally support.

Silva has been a key player at Manchester City during a period of sustained success under Pep Guardiola. City signed goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma this summer for about £26 million; Donnarumma cited the chance to play under Guardiola as a major factor in his move, saying, "The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It's an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him I think is the best for a football player."

Silva’s contract status will be watched closely by clubs across Europe. If he leaves Manchester City at the end of the season as expected, he would be available on a free transfer in the summer of 2026; a January move, as proposed by Noronha Lopes, would require City’s agreement to sell his registration mid-season.

Benfica, one of Portugal’s most supported clubs, has previously attracted returning former players and has a history of high-profile signings tied to presidential promises. Any transfer involving Silva would hinge on formal offers, financial terms acceptable to Manchester City and the player’s own decision on his next career move. As of Thursday, neither Manchester City nor Silva’s representatives had confirmed talks with Benfica or Noronha Lopes, and Benfica’s election process will determine whether the presidential candidate’s pledge can be advanced into formal negotiations.