Why Bernardo Silva was benched in Manchester City's opening Premier League games

Bernardo Silva returned to the lineup in Manchester City's 3-3 draw with Newcastle on Sunday evening.

In recent weeks, the Portuguese has been a hot topic of conversation due to constant reports linking him to a summer switch to Barcelona.

The four-time Premier League champion, who joined City from AS Monaco in 2017, has been understood to be keen on a move to Catalonia in desire of a fresh challenge.

In addition, Xavi is understood to be eyeing the 28-year-old as the ideal replacement for Frenkie de Jong, who has been touted to join either Chelsea or Manchester United this summer.

However, the rumour mill went into overdrive after Silva was dropped to the bench for City’s first two games of the new Premier League campaign.

Considering he was one of Guardiola's finest players last season, many were left puzzled by him falling down the pecking order out of the blue.

Playing a combined 45 minutes across wins against West Ham and Bournemouth, a number of supporters put two and two together to assume that he was Barcelona-bound.

Against the Cherries in particular, Silva was the last to depart the pitch as he decided to clap off the fans following his brief cameo.

Combined with a rare tweet after the clash, there were many that felt an exit in the closing weeks of the transfer window was inevitable.

However, a new update has seemingly confirmed the Silva's plans for the ongoing campaign.

As per the latest information provided by Pol Ballus of The Athletic, there was no correlation between Silva’s exclusion from Manchester City’s first two league games and his future at the club.

It is also stated that there will not be an offer from any interested suitor that will be able to change City’s stance on the midfielder until the end of the transfer window.

Silva scored and set up another on his return to the starting XI as City played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Newcastle at the weekend.

While the ex-Benfica man usually started alongside Kevin De Bruyne in midfield last term, Ilkay Gundogan’s stellar early-season form coupled with his burgeoning relationship with Erling Haaland has deemed him as virtually undroppable so far.

Ultimately, no player is guaranteed a place in Pep Guardiola’s starting XI and the same rule was in place for Bernardo Silva against West Ham and Bournemouth.

Silva has travelled with the Manchester City to Spain and could feature in his side's charity friendly against Barcelona at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.