Pep on Silva:
“What I like the most with David (Silva) is that he’s a guy who can be a little serious in life and little shy, but to see - as a more technical player in the league - how competitive and aggressive he is when he’s usually more about technique and passes.
“I admire him – I admire him a lot because he’s perfect for, for example, Spanish football and in that situation.
“But he’s quick, his speed, and playing in this weather – in wind and tough conditions.
“Like Yaya (Toure), Vincent (Kompany), Joe Hart, like Zaba (Pablo Zabaleta) and many other players – he’s a real legend and he will be written in the books.
“I’m so happy, hopefully we can continue together for the next few years.”
Pep on wanting him at Barcelona:
“When I say I’m a lucky guy it’s because I was with Xavi, Iniesta and now Silva. All three are outstanding players.
“The first or second year I was at Barcelona, Unai Emery, who is now the PSG trainer, was there with Valencia.
“After the game he told me: ‘David Silva is the player for you, for Barcelona. Believe me, that is the player for Barcelona by far.’
“And he was so right. He’s special player but he was so expensive, so expensive.”
Gareth Barry
“I loved playing with David Silva at City.
“When I received the ball, every time I looked up he seemed to be acres of space that you could find him in.”
Carlos Tevez (in 2011)
“David Silva is the best signing we have made. He is the type of player who can win you the game.
“He can provide you with the sort of pass that puts you through one and one with the goalkeeper.
“He is one of the best players in the squad. He has freshened up the team and brought a new dimension to it.”
Frank Lampard
“I’d put him right in the top bracket of the best players I’ve played with in my career.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to play alongside players like Gianfranco Zola, Arjen Robben and Eden Hazard among others and he’s completely up there with the best.
“From the moment I arrived and started training with him in pre-season I could better appreciate his weight of pass, movement, and his touch and he could play in any team in the world.”
Roberto Mancini (in 2010)
“If he had gone to Barca two years ago, everyone would be saying he’s one of the best players in the world—and he is one of the best players in the world.
“I think he’s the same as Xavi and Andres Iniesta.”
Manuel Pellegrini
“Not only for me, it is a gift to see him playing every Sunday for Manchester City.”
Vicente Del Bosque
“Silva has used very well the liberty that we gave him, and he linked well with the people ahead of him.
“He has the individual qualities to break open closed up defences.”
Thierry Henry
“He for me is the best Manchester City player by a distance.
“I may shock people when I say that, but he always wants to go forward and he wants the ball all the time.
“I would have loved to have played with him. He’s always trying to be in that middle pocket. He will make his team play better.”
