15 September 2023 , 23:00
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Diogo Jota would choose Bernardo Silva if he could have any one of his Portugal team-mates at Liverpool - not Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester City star Silva is fresh off winning the Treble at club level and his elegance on the ball combined with a tenacious work rate makes him one of the Premier League's best players. And it seems that according to Jota, he's now also Portugal's finest rather than national hero Ronaldo.
Scorer of an outrageous 123 goals at international level over an unmatched 201 caps, Ronaldo is without doubt the greatest Portuguese player of the modern era. Now, though, aged 38, the five-time Ballon d'Or is beginning to see his powers fade and become less of an important player at international level.
Playing his club football with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo's decline has prompted Jota to snub him when choosing his dream signing for Liverpool out of all of his Portugal team-mates. When asked which of them he'd like to be reunited with on Merseyside, the Liverpool forward told That's Football: "Bernardo.
"For me, he's probably one of the most intelligent football guys I've ever known and the way he can hide the ball from opponents is special."
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It's certainly a fair choice, as Silva being managed by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield would most likely be a force to be reckoned with. Fortunately for City, he's firmly theirs and continues to thrive under boss Pep Guardiola.
Have your say! Do you agree with Diogo Jota? Join the debate in the comments section.
Bernardo Silva is the Portugal star who Diogo Jota would want at Liverpool (Pedro Fiúza/NurPhoto via Getty Images)The 29-year-old had been tipped to leave Manchester this summer for the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain or a Saudi Pro League club. Silva ultimately decided to stay put and signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him with the reigning European champions until 2026.
Jota's choice doesn't mean to say that he isn't in awe of Ronaldo, however. In 2021, the former Wolves, Porto and Atletico Madrid hotshot told FourFourTwo: "Cristiano was my idol - I saw him playing at the highest level at Manchester United, winning the Ballon d'Or and other awards.
"Being Portuguese, I've always looked up to him as an example to follow. When I made my international debut against Lithuania in November 2019, I came on as a substitute for him, which made the moment more special for me. I can only be grateful to have the opportunity to share a dressing room with him."