Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva returned to training this week, but not without a bit of ribbing from teammate Jack Grealish, who made sure to welcome him back with a humorous twist on Instagram.
Pep Guardiola now boasts a much stronger squad compared to the 27-man team that toured the United States for pre-season last month. The bulk of City’s European Championship stars have rejoined the squad, including Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Matheus Nunes, and Jeremy Doku. These players were granted a well-deserved extended summer break to recharge for the upcoming season, which promises another grueling schedule.
One of the returning stars, however, faced a playful reception from his City teammate. After the first training session back at the City Football Academy, Jack Grealish took to Instagram to share a cheeky welcome message for Silva.
“It was a great day today seeing all the lads again, but nothing is better than beating Bernardo Silva in training. Unlucky pal, nice to have you back,” Grealish posted, poking fun at Silva’s misfortune in a training ground match.
Grealish, who was part of the squad that toured the US, had a memorable pre-season with a goal in a 2-2 draw against FC Barcelona, although City ultimately lost in a penalty shootout.
Bernardo Silva, along with Joao Cancelo, Matheus Nunes, and Ruben Dias, rejoined the squad at the City Football Academy. However, Silva’s future remains a topic of speculation. Barcelona is keen to renew their interest in the Portuguese full-back for the 2024/25 season. Yet, financial constraints at the Catalan club might limit them to a loan deal, while Manchester City prefers a permanent transfer.
