REACTION ➡ David Silva: The modest magician at odds with a grandiose world
He’s a superstar who deserves more appreciation
Justin Sherman’s piece for These Football Times got me thinking. Here are some of my thoughts:
You know how people always say we should stop comparing Messi and Ronaldo and just appreciate the fact we get to watch them at their peaks? I feel like the pair’s duopoly on world football has caused us to slightly disregard lesser — but still incredible — players from the late aughts to present day.
One of those players is David Silva. The dude has been a constant presence of calm and brilliance on the pitch for Manchester City since he arrived at the Etihad almost eight years ago.
Justin Sherman does a wonderful job in his piece documenting Silva’s rise to the top. From the Spaniard’s early setback of being denied by the Real Madrid youth academy because of his size, to his two loan spells before breaking into the Valencia first team, to his eventual $35 million move to Manchester, Sherman paints a crystal clear picture that takes you on a smooth ride through Silva’s career.
Sherman didn’t mention this in his piece, but Carlos Tevez was quoted as saying Silva is the best signing City has ever made. And even though we’re now in the Pep Guardiola era where players like Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus are strutting around the Etihad, Tevez’s sentiments still hold true.
Think about it: Silva has been the lynchpin of three different City sides: Roberto Mancini’s, Manuel Pellegrini’s and now Guardiola’s. And barring a complete catastrophe, Silva will have won the Premier League with each of the three managers.
Plus, the fact that he has managed to cement his place in Pep’s side despite fierce competition for a starting place and being on the wrong side of 30 tells you all you need to know.
We can all agree that Sergio Aguero is probably City’s other most important sigining, but most of the Argentine’s goals in sky blue were conjured — or at least partly orchestrated — by the feet of Silva.
Toward the end of his piece, Sherman describes Silva as a “lucid maestro” — someone who often gets overlooked because he always ensures his team arrives at its desired destination. And it’s true. Silva is the master of making the correct decision, whether it’s a pass, a shot or taking on a defender.
He doesn’t have a Ballon d’Or, a PFA Player of the Year award or even a FIFA or UEFA Team of the Year selection, but Silva is undoubtedly one of the best players of his era.
Shout out to Sherman for placing the Spaniard’s illustrious career in the spotlight it deserves; even if Silva prefers the attention be placed on anyone but himself.
