Haaland on Bernardo: He's probably the smartest footballer I've played with

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has lauded teammate and captain Bernardo Silva, following the Portuguese midfielder's confirmation that he will depart the club at the end of the season. The duo has shared the pitch 167 times for the Citizens over four seasons, securing seven trophies together during that period.

“If you ask me what exactly he’s good at, it’s hard to explain – the way he controls the game and his intelligence, he’s probably the smartest footballer I’ve ever played with. Just the way he controls the game and everything. When you talk about his career at City, the last nine years have been insane. He’s won the Premier League six times – look at his trophies, he’s won the Champions League. Look at how important he was for us in the treble-winning season. When he scored against Bayern, when he scored two goals against Real Madrid. It’s hard to put into words because he’s been such a vital figure for this team over the last nine years. He’s also helped build the club on and off the pitch,” Haaland told Sky Sports.

In the remaining matches of the season, the pair will aim to help Manchester City clinch two more trophies. In the Premier League, the team trails leaders Arsenal by six points but has a game in hand, while in the FA Cup, they are set to face Southampton in the semi-finals.