David Silva has penned a short-term contract extension at Manchester City until the end of the season.
The veteran midfielder was due to depart the Etihad at the end of June before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across the sporting landscape, but Silva will now have one final chance to achieve Champions League glory with City.
Pep Guardiola confirmed the news on Tuesday, although the City manager admitted he is saddened by the fact that Silva will not be given a proper goodbye in the absence of the Etihad faithful.
"He will stay until the end of the season and it is unfortunate he is going to finish his last games here without people," Guardiola said in quotes attributed to the Evening Standard. "But he is coming back and hopefully he can have the big farewell with people.
"Always the big clubs become a huge, incredible club when they make these kind of big gestures to these incredible players for what they have done for more than one decade. David is one of them.
"The situation is what it is. No one wants it, not just for David but for everyone. When everything is returning to normal the club will make an agreement with David and do what they have to do."
Since arriving from Valencia in 2010, Silva has amassed 73 goals from 423 appearances across all competitions for the Citizens.
Manchester City resume their Premier League campaign on Wednesday night as they welcome Arsenal to the Etihad after a three-month hiatus.
Ben Knapton
