Pep Guardiola left in tears after witnessing what Man City and Aston Villa players did for Bernardo Silva

Pep Guardiola was in tears after every Aston Villa player followed the Manchester City squad in giving Bernardo Silva a guard of honour as he left the Etihad pitch in his final game for the club.

It was an emotional afternoon for the departing Silva, who will leave City when his contract expires in June.

The 33-year-old, who has made over 450 appearances during his nine-year stay in Manchester, has won 19 major trophies with the Citizens, including six Premier League titles, a Champions League and two FA Cups.

Ahead of kick-off, Silva could be seen shedding a tear before making his way onto the Etihad pitch for the final time.

And in the 58th minute, the Portuguese midfielder received a standing ovation from everyone inside the stadium after being substituted, including the visiting team.

In fact, Unai Emery's side formed a guard of honour for Silva, who was understandably overwhelmed by the reception. You can watch that incredible moment below.

A standing ovation from everyone inside the Etihad for Bernardo Silva 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wrlp35FHXC

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 24, 2026

Bernardo Silva has next club lined up after leaving Man City

Atletico Madrid are believed to be leading the race for Silva's signature, according to MARCA, with the Spanish side seeing him as an ideal replacement for Antoine Griezmann, who has agreed terms with MLS side Orlando City.

Silva believes working under Diego Simeone at Atletico is the right destination for the next stage of his career, and the club are said to be prepared to include a lucrative signing-on bonus to seal the deal.

Juventus had been heavily linked with Silva. They were willing to offer a salary of €8 million per season as well as a contract until 2028, but those negotiations appear to have been unsuccessful.

Back in April, Silva announced his decision to leave City with a heartfelt message.

It read: "When I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things. This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for.

"What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad.

"In a few months it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you.

"To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget. My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch.

"I hope you felt that every single game. I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team and I’m pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future."

He added: "To the club, Pep, the staff and all my teammates these 9 years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long."