Diogo Jota has just named Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva as the Portugal player he would love to play with at Liverpool with free reign in the transfer window.
The 26-year-old believes what Silva adds for the Citizens and the Selecao side is ‘special’ as his intelligence is immense. Jota has earned 26 of his 33 caps for Portugal alongside the 29-year-old since November 2019. The pair have also combined for two goals for their country.
Jota first created a goal for Silva as he assisted the 84-cap playmaker in a Nations League tie against Sweden. The Liverpool winger found the Manchester City midfielder to break the deadlock in October 2020. Jota then ran up their scoreline with a brace to secure a 3-0 win.
Jota has spent much of his Portugal career playing with Silva
Silva took until March 2021 to repay the favour by assisting Jota for the first of his double in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Serbia. Jota headed home the Lisbon-born star’s delivery before heading in again to lead 2-0. But Portugal would not hold on and settled for a draw.
Manager Roberto Martinez only started Silva as Portugal edged Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2026 World Cup qualifier last Saturday. Jota entered the action in the final stages whilst Silva left the game. But the pair both started as the Selecao trashed Luxembourg 9-0 on Monday.
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Jota bagged another brace for his country to reach 12 goals in 33 caps since his debut back in November 2019. He has also recorded nine assists across all competitions for his country. Silva has now penned 11 goals and 27 assists since his debut for the Selecao in March 2015.
Jota would love the Manchester City maestro at Liverpool
What Silva has shown when the Manchester City maestro has been in a Portugal camp with Jota has enthralled the Liverpool winger. So, the Reds star has named the five-time Premier League winner as the Selecao star he would love to play with at Anfield if given the chance.
Jota would snub the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Goncalo Ramos or Joao Felix to welcome the Citizens star to Merseyside. He would also have Silva over Rafael Leao, who AC Milan priced at €175m (£150m) this summer, per CBS, with a release clause that was only valid over July.
“Bernardo Silva,” Jota told That’s Football. “For me, he’s probably one of the most intelligent football guys I’ve known and the way he can hide the ball from the opponents is special.”