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David Silva to leave Manchester City in 2020

David Silva will leave Manchester City at the end of next season after a decade with the Premier League champions.

The 33-year-old Spaniard is an icon of City’s dominant era under Sheikh Mansour’s ownership, helping them to four league titles.

The Spanish World Cup winner is a symbol of City’s transformation from perennial strugglers to title contenders and a European force.

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But the diminutive playmaker - currently with 395 appearances to his name - will bring down the curtain on his time in Manchester next season.

Silva said: "No, this is the last one (season). Ten years for me is enough. It's the perfect time for me.

"Initially, City were talking about two years, but I decided to sign [for] another one, so I finished at 10 years.

"It completes the cycle. It's a nice round figure. I can never see myself playing against City for another team. So 10 years - that's it."

Barclays Premier League, Manchester City Press Conference, David Silva Signing, Manchester City unveil their new signing David Silva   (Photo by Jon Buckle/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City unveil their new signing David Silva in 2010 (Photo by Jon Buckle/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Barclays Premier League, Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers, Etihad Stadium, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring the winning goal   (Photo by Ed Garvey/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring the winning goal against QPR as Man City seal their first Premier League title(Photo by Ed Garvey/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Signed in the summer of 2010 by Roberto Mancini for £25million, two-time European Championship winner Silva arrived in England with a reputation as a forward-thinking midfielder.

City, then with the likes of Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez on the books, were in the process of transforming into an elite side.

But it could be argued Silva’s arrival in Manchester acted as the catalyst for the change which also saw them lift two FA Cups and four League Cups.

Barclays Premier League, Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers, Etihad Stadium, David Silva, Manchester City   (Photo by Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
David Silva helps Manchester City to their first Premier League title by beating QPR (Photo by Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Barclays Premier League, Manchester City v Queens Park Rangers, Etihad Stadium, Manchester City celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League   (Photo by Ed Garvey/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)
Manchester City celebrate winning the Premier League in 2012 (Photo by Ed Garvey/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Included in the Premier League team of the season twice, Silva’s impact on a modern-day City cannot be underestimated.

His ability to glide beyond opposition players and place an inch-perfect through-ball made him perfect for the attacking force the City hierarchy envisaged they would become.

Silva has scored 54 goals in 282 Premier League appearances.

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva poses with the Premier League trophy after their 4-1 victory in the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on May 12, 2019. - Manchester City held off a titanic challenge from Liverpool to become the first side in a decade to retain the Premier League on Sunday by coming from behind to beat Brighton 4-1 on Sunday. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /         (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
David Silva poses with the Premier League trophy in 2019 (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester City's Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and David Silva celebrate with the trophy after winning the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
David Silva joins the FA Cup trophy celebrations as Man City complete the domestic treble (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)

He made 50 appearances in all competitions last season, though City started considering a succession plan by signing his namesake from Monaco - Bernardo.

And after his 34th birthday - as he approaches the twilight of his career - he will leave the club and go down as one of their greatest ever players.

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