Manchester City: Kevin De Bruyne says Champions League triumph would mark perfect send-off for David Silva

Spaniard’s time at the Manchester club is coming to an end

Kevin De Bruyne believes winning the Champions League would be the perfect Manchester City send-off for David Silva.

Veteran playmaker Silva is leaving City when their European campaign comes to an end. It resumes with the second leg of their much-delayed last-16 tie against Real Madrid on 7 August.

The 34-year-old made his final appearance in the Premier League – a competition he has won four times during an outstanding decade’s service to City – in Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing of relegated Norwich.

The continent’s elite club competition is the one major prize to have eluded the Spaniard in a glittering career that has also included World Cup and European Championship titles with Spain.

“For me he is one of the best players who has ever played in the Premier League,” said De Bruyne, who scored twice and notched a record-equalling assist in the campaign-ending rout of the Canaries.

“You can always debate who is [number] one, but when you play with him, you can appreciate what he does day-in, day-out. I have played with him for five years – a long time. We have won a lot together, we play well together. We complement each other really well in different ways.

“And he’s such a nice guy as well. He is going to be a big miss. It would be great if we could win the Champions League so it could end well for him.”

Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring against Norwich for the Premier League runners-up before De Bruyne curled in a stunning second. De Bruyne then set up Raheem Sterling for number three – his 20th assist of the season, matching the Premier League record of Thierry Henry – before wrapping up the scoring after Riyad Mahrez also struck.

De Bruyne, 29, said: “It is good to stay in the rhythm. There is no point slacking. We have to keep going full pace.

“Now we have got two weeks to prepare ourselves fully and we have got another final. We want to prepare ourselves the best possible to be ready for that game and hopefully we can play another four games this year.”

PA