David Silva has expressed his gratitude to Manchester City after paying an emotional tribute to the club and its fans for their support during his time with there.
Having been at the Etihad Stadium since 2010, the Spaniard brings an end to his ties with the English club after his contract expired this summer.
The 34-year-old has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields since arriving 10 years ago.
However, his final outing for the club came on Saturday, when they suffered a shocking defeat to Olympique Lyon in the quarter finals of the Champions League in Lisbon.
The Manchester side have already revealed their plans to honour the Spain international with a statue outside the Etihad while they also plan to dedicate a training pitch with a bespoke mosaic to Silva at their City Football Academy.
And the departing skipper has posted a message on Twitter, thanking he club and fans for their support through good times and bad, noting when his son Mateo was fighting for his life after being born prematurely in 2018.
Thank you @ManCity 💙 pic.twitter.com/HPaDjSrleR
— David Silva (@21LVA) August 17, 2020
“The time has arrived. Ten years and 13 titles later, it’s time for me to say goodbye to the club that has left an indelible mark on my life and career,” he said. “I look back and it’s clear I could not have made a better decision than to accept City’s proposal to join their project back in 2010.
“Manchester City and I have grown together. In 10 years, I have developed personally and professionally. I have celebrated many victories and titles and lived through epic moments.
“I have seen my lovely child, Mateo, born and I have even started to feel comfortable under heavy rain!
“City are a fantastic family. I won’t ever forget the way they threw themselves into helping me when I suffered the hardest moments of my life, offering me support and empathy.
“Precisely because of that I want to tell you it has been a real pleasure wearing the sky blue shirt and the captain’s armband of our club, sharing the dressing room with the best players and coaches in the world, and working closely with the finest club representatives and board members the game has to offer.
“And on top of that, all the time I had the backing of the amazing fans who have supported me always, through good and bad moments. You are really amazing.
“I hope that City will achieve even bigger triumphs in the future. I am going to support the team from a distance. I am so happy I have shared these unforgettable moments with the City family – you will always be in my heart.
“I want to send every Cityzen a huge hug.”
