Retiring David Silva an all-time Premier League great, says former Man City team-mate Lescott

Retiring playmaker David Silva should be remembered as one of the best players to grace the Premier League, according to his former Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott.

Real Sociedad midfielder Silva announced his retirement at the age of 37 last Thursday, having suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training.

Prior to joining La Real in 2020, Silva won four Premier League titles and seven domestic cups during a memorable spell at the Etihad Stadium, where he has since been honoured with a statue.

Silva – who also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championship titles with Spain – led all Premier League players for assists (89) and chances created (768) during the decade between 2010 and 2020.

Having played alongside Silva between 2010 and 2014, former City defender Lescott believes Silva deserves to be seen as a Premier League great.

“When he joined he was obviously a World Cup winner and a Euros winner, and he turned out to be an iconic Premier League player, one of the best to ever grace the Premier League,” Lescott told Stats Perform.

“I think we all are aware of what his qualities were on the pitch, but what a guy. What a human being. My biggest compliment to David is that he’s equally as good a person as he is a player.”

89 – David Silva assisted 89 Premier League goals this decade; 27 more than any other player in the competition in the 2010s. Magician. #Opta2010s pic.twitter.com/BLsWDJcQig

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2019

City have lost two further club icons during the current transfer window, with Ilkay Gundogan joining Barcelona on a free transfer and Riyad Mahrez signing for Saudi side Al Ahli in a £30million deal.

Lescott believes the duo will be missed by Pep Guardiola’s treble winners, adding: “The qualities they’ll bring to their new teams are obvious.

“They have superior technical ability. Ilkay is recognised as one of the best leaders in the squad. Riyad is obviously one of the most skilful.

“They’ll bring that to their new teams but they’ll be sorely missed, not just because of their ability on the pitch, but [because of] what they brought to the dressing room and what they were to City’s fanbase.”

Having delivered the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies last term, Guardiola is looking to lead City to a fourth successive top-flight title this season.

Asked about Guardiola’s impact on English football, Lescott said: “He’s obviously changed the game, he’s revolutionised different positions, the way we look at it and the way we view it.

“Every country he’s managed in, I think they’ve tried to adapt throughout the leagues, and that’s the biggest compliment for Pep.

“Now in England there are multiple teams in multiple leagues that want to play the way they see Man City play.”

The boss! pic.twitter.com/On8vRh2dnr

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 31, 2023