Bernardo Silva, the renowned Manchester City football legend and son of Mota Veiga Silva and Maria João Silva, has made significant strides in both football and life. As a young boy, he was a devoted supporter of Benfica and was recognized for his intelligence and high IQ. He demonstrated the right attitude and work ethic early on, essential for success in the football world. However, his journey wasn’t easy. Initially, his coach Jorge Jesus didn’t see him as a quality midfield player and doubted his potential to break into Benfica’s senior team. When the coach assigned him to play as a left-back, Bernardo realized his time at the club he cherished was coming to an end.
Leaving Benfica was a painful decision for him, as he held the club close to his heart, even having their motto, ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ tattooed on his left arm. His dreams with Benfica were crushed by Jorge Jesus, but Bernardo found hope and revival in his career at Monaco, thanks to Jardim, whom he considers a father figure. This pivotal moment led to his discovery by Pep Guardiola. Today, Bernardo is not only a Manchester City legend but also a proud owner of a French Bulldog named John Stones, after his football teammate. Now, let’s dive deeper into the story of this exceptional player.
The Story of Bernardo Silva: Overcoming Setbacks and Finding Success
Preamble:
We present the Full Story of a Man City and Spanish Football Legend who is best known by the Nickname; ‘Little Messi’.
Our version of Bernardo Silva’s Biography and Childhood Story brings you a full account of notable events from his childhood time to date.
The analysis of Bernardo Silva’s Life Story involves his life story before fame, his parents (Mota Veiga Silva and Maria João Silva), family life and many OFF and ON-Pitch little-known facts about him.
Yes, everyone knows about Bernardo Silva’s advanced playmaking abilities with Guardiola’s Man City and Roberto Martinez‘s Portugal team.
However, not many fans have read about Bernardo’s life outside the pitch, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let us begin.
Bernardo Silva Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
The early career years of the Portuguese magician.
For Biography starters, Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva was born to his mother Maria João Silva and Father, Mota Veiga Silva, on the 10th of August, the FIFA World Cup year of 1994, in Lisbon, Portugal.
As a young boy, he grew up supporting Benfica. He was a bright young thing with a high IQ. His attitude and hard work were the criteria for where he is today in the football world.
He started his football career as an eight-year-old and eventually progressed through the youth system before he made his debut for Benfica B in the second tier of the Portuguese league football in 2013.
Bernardo was Nicknamed ‘Messizinho’ and ‘Little Messi‘ because of his immense talent. Bernardo spent his childhood with his cousin Matilde Fidalgo, who was also born in 1994 and has played for both Portugal and Manchester City’s women’s teams.
Education and Multilingual Skills:
Bernardo Silva’s proficiency in English has been described as “perfect” by the media, largely because his parents (Maria and Mota) enrolled him in an English-speaking school in Lisbon when he was just six years old. Besides his native Portuguese, Silva is also fluent in French and Spanish.
Bernardo Silva Biography – Jorge Mendes is his Agent:
Bernardo Silva is represented by the globally renowned football agent Jorge Paulo Agostinho Mendes, often referred to as a “super-agent.” Mendes is among the most influential agents in the football world, with a client roster that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea, Diego Costa, James Rodríguez, Marcos Rojo, and José Mourinho. He has been named Best Agent of the Year at the Globe Soccer Awards six consecutive times, from 2010 to 2015.
Mendes initially pursued a career as a footballer but had to abandon his professional aspirations after being rejected by several Portuguese clubs in his early 20s. He then transitioned to running a video rental store, working as a DJ, and eventually opening a bar and nightclub in Caminha, a small municipality in northwest Portugal.
Due to his association with super-agent Jorge Mendes, many believed Bernardo would join Manchester United when he left Monaco. Mendes had close ties with Manchester United’s manager José Mourinho. However, Guardiola’s Manchester City won the battle for Bernardo, who had impressed Guardiola during Monaco’s 5-3 loss in the first leg of the UCL (UEFA Champions League) quarter-final clash.
Bernardo Silva Biography – Once a Leftover:
Jorge Jesus of Benfica achieved great things at his club. But the club’s fans, at that time remained critical of his lack of trust and faith in homegrown talents, with Bernardo Silva inevitably cited as the best example.
He never believed in the young playmaker. For a season, Jorge Jesus allowed Bernardo to play just 31 minutes over three matches for Benfica’s first team.
Bernardo Silva himself recently admitted that under Jesus, he had ‘no hope of cracking Benfica’s senior side’, saying: “When coach Jorge Jesus put me to train and play at left-back at Benfica, I quickly realised I had no future at my childhood club.”
Benfica was a club Bernardo held dear to his heart. So dear to his heart that he has their motto, ‘E Pluribus Unum’ tattooed on his left arm. His dreams with them were shattered by Jorge Jesus.
Bernardo Silva Biography – Similar Names, Similar Type of Player, Good Friends:
The playmaker observed upon his arrival at City that he won’t be the only Silva on the teamsheet.
Both became best friends upon noticing they shared similar names, personalities and traits on the pitch.
They both have a cultured left foot, an eye for the pass, a low centre of gravity and a dribbling ability that has haunted opposition defences.
The Sleepy and Intelligence Trait:
Getting to know the Legendary Bernardo, outside the beautiful game.
Bernardo Silva spends about an hour lying on the floor with his eyes closed after every training session. This practice enhances his thinking abilities, contributing to his intelligence on the pitch and making him one of the most intelligent footballers in the world. His intelligence is also evident in his well-worded responses to journalists and thoughtful personality.
Bernardo has shown his fellow City teammates his remarkable ability to adapt to new countries, languages, and cultures. He is accustomed to football migration, having settled quickly in France at a young age, which helped him develop as a person. Fortunately, he had already learned English before moving to England. Bernardo’s intelligence, combined with his post-training relaxation routine, allows him to focus on his needs and seize opportunities effectively.
League 1 Player of the Year 2016-2017 Season:
It should have been Bernardo Silva who should have picked up the title of Ligue 1 Player of the Year, instead of Edinson Cavani. However, due to the abundance of stars in the Monaco team, the votes were likely split. This insight comes from Goal.
Despite Silva’s standout season, Edinson Cavani clinched the Ligue 1 Player of the Year 2016-2017. Monaco’s multiple stars possibly split the vote, as per Goal’s insight.
Of all the dazzling performers on France’s south coast that season, Bernardo Silva was the most consistent throughout the campaign. His former teammate Fabinho admitted in February 2017,
“He’s maybe the most important member of the team.”
While predators like Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe grabbed the spotlight, Bernardo’s contribution was often overlooked. He didn’t have staggering numbers or the swagger, explosiveness, or power of players like Benjamin Mendy or Tiemoue Bakayoko.
Fabinho added,
“When I arrived in Monaco in 2014, I didn’t know it was going to go like this. He arrived as an unknown footballer in France. I was surprised the club, Monaco, signed him after only one match with Benfica’s senior squad. Today, he has become something else.”
He is Forever Grateful to Jardim:
Bernardo Silva has admitted that he owes much to Leonardo Jardim, who is more like a father to him than a former coach.
Bernardo Silva deeply credits Leonardo Jardim, viewing him more as a father figure than just a former coach.
In his own words, Bernardo Silva stated,
“Personally, Jardim has given me a lot. He works well with young footballers. He trusted me, saw I was young and then gave me the opportunity. From that moment in my head, I felt different. I did improved within just three months of joining the French club.”
Jardim was so fond of him that he made Bernardo a traditional number 10 at the club, initially giving him the number 15 shirt. Jardim admired Bernardo’s sweet left foot, his movement, and his dribbling skills. Bernardo went on to make 132 appearances for Monaco, helping the club secure a Ligue 1 title in the 2016/17 season. This achievement earned him a call to play for Pep Guadiola’s Man City team. The rest as we say, is now history.
