Bernardo Silva is a key part of Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad (Picture; Getty)
Bernardo Silva has revealed he would select two Arsenal players if nationality wasn’t an issue and add them to Portugal’s already formidable looking Euro 2024 squad.
The Manchester City stalwart will represent a key component of the squad Roberto Martinez has assembled which is looking to repeat their triumph of eight years ago.
Silva, fresh from helping Pep Guardiola’s side win a fourth successive Premier League title, will head to Germany in justifiably confident mood but believes two rivals who he was competing with last term would add an extra dimension to his Portugal team.
Asked for the three players he would select, Silva first selected his former Monaco teammate Kylian Mbappe, telling ESPN: ‘I would say Kylian Mbappe definitely I played with him and he’s a beast.’
He later added: ‘I’m going for one midfielder and I’m going to say Declan Rice I really like him.
‘I’m not going to say any City players so you don’t think I’m going with friends or I could’ve said Rodri, so I’m not going to say any teammates.
‘I’m going to go with Saliba I think he’s a great defender who had a great season. They’re doing great to be honest.’
Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva were teammates previously at Monaco (Picture: Getty)
Saliba was a rock at the heart of Arsenal’s defence last term and helped his side keep clean sheets in both Premier League meetings with Silva’s City.
His place in the French team is far from certain, however, with Didier Deschamps appearing to prefer a combination of former RB Leipzig teammates Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate.
Mbappe, however, believes his form teammate at boyhood club AS Bondy is one of the best defensive talents in world football.
He said earlier this week: ‘This season, he has become a very important player for Arsenal and is among the best centre-backs in the Premier League,” Mbappe told Ouest-France
‘The forward — who will join Real Madrid this summer — added: “He is starting to get minutes with us. It’s now up to him to find his place. For me, he has all the qualities to, in time, be a starter with Les Bleus.’
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