Benfica academy technical co-ordinator Rodrigo Magalhaes has labelled Manchester City's Bernardo Silva as one of the top five players in world football and has spoken highly of the playmaker's rise to the top.
The 27-year-old was strongly linked with a move away from Etihad Stadium last summer, but he has since been a standout performer for the Citizens this season, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in 34 appearances across all competitions.
Silva, who is believed to have caught the eye of Real Madrid, was among an elite group of talent to have emerged from Benfica's academy in recent years, along with City teammates Joao Cancelo and Ruben Dias, and Magalhaes was one of the men responsible for their development at a young age.
Speaking to LiveScore, Magalhaes claims Benfica had to be patient with Silva's growth in the academy but he believes that he has since developed into an "unbelievable" player and has likened him to Lionel Messi.
"The first time I saw Bernardo was when he was nine or 10 years old. At that time he was playing seven-a-side and Bernardo was different in comparison to the other players. He played like a winger, like a midfielder and like a forward. His decision-making was fantastic and his relationship with the ball was unbelievable.
"He had some problems – and that is problems in quote marks – because he didn't have the same growth as the other guys. He was an amazing player until Under-14s and then in Under-15s, 16s, 17s and 18s he had some difficulties. We saw all the quality there but we had to wait for Bernardo to realise his potential. But when Bernardo developed strength and his physicality, it was unbelievable.
"The decision-making, the chance to play in different positions – that is one of his characteristics that Pep Guardiola talks about a lot. He talks about [Joao] Cancelo in that way too. The future player is the one that can play different roles in the same game. For a coach it is amazing, you don't have to make substitutions because the same player can play like a winger, a right or left midfielder, an attacking midfielder or like a forward too. Like Lionel Messi did at Barcelona. I think that Bernardo has the same role at Man City sometimes.
"Bernardo knows the game – his game knowledge his decision-making, his relationship with the ball, his connection with all of his teammates, these characteristics make him a special player. It is fair that this season we say he has been one of the top five players in the world."
Speaking about Silva's impressive form over the last 12 months, Magalhaes added: "I think he is growing up like other players. He has the maturity, the knowledge of English football, knowledge of Guardiola's ideas. I think he is at the point where he is at the top of his ability.
"We think he will maintain that level for 20 years – no, for the next five or six years is possible. I think and I hope that he returns to Benfica when he is playing like this!"
Silva, who is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until June 2025, has made a total of 235 appearances for Man City across all competitions, winning three Premier League titles, four League Cups and one FA Cup.
