Bernardo Silva’s Ruthless Response to Zinchenko’s Premier League Ambition
Oleksandr Zinchenko enjoyed five trophy-laden years at Manchester City alongside Bernardo Silva, but since his move to Arsenal, their once-friendly relationship has taken a turn for the worse.
While some footballers go out of their way to help former teammates even after parting ways, Bernardo Silva is certainly not one of them.
Zinchenko and Silva shared the highs of four Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups, and an FA Cup during their time together at City. But in his new autobiography Believe, the Ukrainian opened up about how their dynamic has shifted since he joined Arsenal in 2022.
During a summer break in the south of France, Zinchenko decided to reach out to his old teammate for some training advice. Silva, known for his sharp tongue, didn’t hold back.
“I saw on Instagram that Bernardo Silva was there as well. I texted him, asking if he knew a pitch to do some exercises,” wrote Zinchenko. “He wrote back saying, ‘For what? Do you need a pitch?'”
Zinchenko, determined to stay fit, replied: “I need to run.” Silva’s reply? A brutal dismissal of his efforts. “‘Run? For what? You’re going to try to win the Premier League again? Forget about it. Stay at home,'” Silva shot back.
Zinchenko later showed Silva’s ruthless messages to Manchester City‘s Jeremy Doku, who, according to the Ukrainian, was “laughing his head off” at the cold response.
For many fans, this exchange likely won’t come as a shock. Silva is notorious for his relentless competitive spirit, a trait that has helped him win titles in Portugal with Benfica, in France with Monaco, and, of course, in England with City.
That edge was on full display after a tense 2-2 draw between City and Arsenal in September. In a dramatic game, City salvaged a point in stoppage time after Arsenal—City’s closest rivals in recent Premier League campaigns—went down to 10 men before halftime.
Silva didn’t hold back when discussing how City’s rivalry with Arsenal differs from their long-standing battles with Liverpool. In typical blunt fashion, he said: “The difference? Maybe that Liverpool have already won the Premier League, Arsenal haven’t. That Liverpool have won the Champions League, Arsenal haven’t.”
He further added: “Liverpool always faced us face to face to try to win the games, so from this perspective, the games against Arsenal haven’t been like the ones we had and have against Liverpool. So yes, maybe a different rivalry.”
Zinchenko may have traded Manchester blue for Arsenal red, but it seems his former teammates aren’t willing to make his life any easier.
