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Bernardo Silva: I couldn't say no to Man City and Pep Guardiola

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Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva explains the lure of working with Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has explained why the lure of working with Pep Guardiola tempted him to move to the Premier League from Monaco.

The midfielder moved in a deal worth £43m during the summer after three successful years in France culminating in a Ligue 1 title win last season.

But the Portugal international said it was impossible to resist when Guardiola came calling and says he has already learned a number of valuable lessons from the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

"When you have a coach like Guardiola you cannot say no, because of the way he plays and the style his teams play," Silva said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.

"Also, the quality of players that Manchester City have, when you have the opportunity to play with David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, I could say all of them.

"To be trained by Guardiola and learn from the best, you cannot say no.

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"All coaches have different ways of working. Of course, Guardiola is very different from [Leonardo] Jardim at Monaco, so I am learning different things.

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"He always tries to get to the little details and I think that makes the difference. To know the way he wants to defend and attack, so when you get on the pitch you know everything you have to do,

"And then he also gives you the freedom to play and use your qualities. It's been a pleasure, I've learned a lot already and I hope I can learn much more."

However, Guardiola was not the only influence on Silva's decision to move to the north of England.

He admitted that his Portugal team-mates Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo encouraged him to sign, even though they are former players at City's arch rivals Manchester United.

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Pep Guardiola speaks exclusively to Sky Sports’ Martin Tyler about Sergio Aguero, Jurgen Klopp and the transfer window ahead of Man City v Liverpool, live on Sky Sports.

He added: "When I was coming to Manchester I asked [Ronaldo] and Nani about the city and the league, and they said I would enjoy it so much.

"When they were here it was so good for them and the only thing they could tell me was that I will have a great time here and I have to say yes.

"They played at United but what they mostly said was that both clubs are very good and there's a big rivalry between the two, but when I told them about City they said it's a huge club and a big opportunity for me."

Silva has only played in three Premier League matches so far, but the former Benfica player said he has already noticed big differences with other European leagues.

"The difference here is mainly the referees," he said.

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A look ahead to Saturday's Premier League matches, including Man City v Liverpool and Stoke v Man Utd.

"In Spain, Portugal and France they whistle for the little falls and give [fouls], but here they let them go and let the game flow.

"That's why the game is more physical and competitive, and that's a good thing.

"That's why it's also a different league and also the most watched one."

See more from Sky Sports' exclusive interview with Bernardo Silva by watching Premier League Live: Man City v Liverpool from 11.30am, Saturday on Sky Sports Premier League.

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