Manchester City midfielder David Silva is departing the club after a decade of service. On Monday, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak revealed the plan for a David Silva statue, as well as the dedication of a training pitch with a mosaic to the Spaniard.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed plans for a tribute statue to @21LVA to be installed outside the Etihad, while a training pitch with bespoke mosaic will also be dedicated to El Mago at the City Football Academy.
Full interview#ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 17, 2020
The City tribute tweets didn’t stop there. An outpouring of support for Silva filled Twitter from players, and the 34-year-old left a touching letter to Cityzens.
Aprendimos mucho de ti. Todos los días. Hiciste más grande a @ManCity y nos hiciste mejor. Fue un honor haber compartido todos estos años contigo y con tantos logros. Te vamos a extrañar. Todo lo mejor en lo que viene. Eternamente gracias @21LVA #Legend #GraciasDavid #ElMago pic.twitter.com/s8728hYTNX
— Sergio Kun Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) August 17, 2020
Glittering Silva-ware
An incredible contribution from one of the Club’s greatest-ever playersGracias, @21LVA!
#ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/BVz7sC5cXl
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 17, 2020
Sad to see this man leave the club after an incredible 10 years. It was an honour to play with and wish you all the best in the future my friend @21LVA pic.twitter.com/DijzzZlhFW
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) August 17, 2020
It was an honour to play alongside a such great player and incredible person. Good luck on your next journey. God bless you and your family.
El mago 10years. @21LVA pic.twitter.com/czE2WCuC0w— Fernandinho (@fernandinho) August 17, 2020
Thank you @ManCity pic.twitter.com/HPaDjSrleR
— David Silva (@21LVA) August 17, 2020
Haters are always lurking, with some football fans questioning Silva being called a “club legend” and deserving a statue. Comments like “wow, I guess 77 goals in 436 appearances gets you a statue” and “they really be making statues for anyone nowadays” tried to sprinkle down on Silva’s farewell parade.
If we really want to talk about making statues for anyone, we can’t forget that Fulham used to proudly have a Michael Jackson statue outside its stadium.
Da goat monument is Michael Jackson outside of Fulham football club. Scored af load of goals 2 help go up da divisions in da 70s nd 80s pic.twitter.com/ZVg2orTwgW
— Craic Buachaill (@craicbuachaill) June 7, 2020
For Silva’s sake, let’s hope that the statue they make of him looks sleeker than his statue from his birthplace in the Canary Islands.
Still not as horrible as those nightmare material Cristiano Ronaldo statues.
Silva will be one of two new statues to appear outside the Etihad as one for former defender Vincent Kompany is under construction. In ten years with the club, Silva helped City rise to prominence. Even from the start he was raising eyebrows. His first goal for the club was an absolute beauty.
His first ever premier league goal was a beauty pic.twitter.com/mWRyymo3CG
— FUT Stephen A (@FutStephenA) August 17, 2020
The mosaic at the training ground will depict Silva — in perhaps his finest hour — during City’s 6-1 victory against Manchester United during the 2011-12 season. City lifted its first-ever Premier League title that year. Silva also had one of the finest assists you will ever see in the thrashing of the Red Devils.
David Silva X Dzeko. Those were the days pic.twitter.com/77Cp6bzWNl
— JG (@JG1905) August 13, 2020
In total he won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and three Community Shields for City.
Silva had for the longest time been linked with Lazio for the next chapter in his career. Then in a shock transfer, Real Sociedad snatched Silva right out from Lazio.
Real Sociedad hijacked David Silva deal! Lazio had a total agreement on a three three years contract and medicals scheduled in Rome. Real Sociedad contacted him secretly. Lazio are furious. Done deal. #transfers
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 17, 2020
OFFICIAL: Real Sociedad beat Lazio to the signing of David Silva pic.twitter.com/WFY16FsqYV
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 17, 2020
WHAT? He was boarding a plane to fly to Rome and sign with Lazio! https://t.co/sclyzMsL78
— Bruce Schoenfeld (@bruceschoenfeld) August 17, 2020
Silva will return to LaLiga after a decade away. City signed Silva from Valencia in 2010.