Joleon Lescott reveals his fondest memories of Manchester City legend David Silva

It was David Silva’s former Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott who coined the nickname ‘Merlin’ to describe the Spaniard’s wizadry on the ball.

With Silva bidding farewell to the Premier League today after 10 glorious years, Lescott reveals the moniker was conceived after arguably the legendary midfielder’s finest performance – a pre-season friendly against Inter Milan in 2011 that proved highly significant.

City had just ended a long trophy drought by winning the FA Cup, with Silva playing on the left, and all thoughts were on a Premier League title challenge when they faced Inter Milan on pre-season tour in Dublin.

Joleon Lescott is set to play his final game for Manchester City after 10 glorious years

Joleon Lescott has revealed his fondest memories of his former team-mate, nicknamed ‘Merlin’

‘We’d beaten everyone up until then and were thinking: ‘Right, this could happen,’ recalls Lescott.

‘We changed formation for the Inter game, 4-3-3 with David solely as a No10. Inter were strong, they’d won the Champions League in 2010, but we won 3-0 and David’s performance was, well we christened him Merlin, the magician.

‘It was like, if he plays there for the season, no-one will stop him. I called him Merlin. Yeah, I am taking credit. It stuck, and rightly so.’

The Spanish maestro has been dazzling the midfield of City for the entirety of his spell

City were champions the following May and this afternoon Silva will bow out among the pantheon of the Premier League’s greatest imports alongside Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba.

The Spaniard has won 11 major honours including four Premier League titles and proved that players of all sizes can flourish in English football if talented enough.

Lescott, Silva’s team mate between 2010 and 2014 and now back at City as loan manager, says Merlin stands alone as the club’s best player despite coming through in an era alongside Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.

Lescott argues that Silva is the club’s greatest ever player despite a period where City had a bask of club legends such as  Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure

He argues: ‘City have had some greats but for consistency, you have to separate him further. You see players do special things on a regular basis, but for 10 years like David?

‘None of us can remember a period of time when he’s not contributed or played to the level he is now.

‘All Premier League players need technical ability, but David still stands out. I’ve said before he’s got feet like pillows.

‘We’d do Rondos pretty much every day in training. Take a poor touch and you go inside the box. David didn’t go in the middle for a whole week. Only using his left foot really, it was crazy.

The former defender spoke of the wonder of what Silva was able to do during training sessions

‘I’d like another five years of David Silva. If he’d wanted to sign a new three-year contract the club would do that. But he has earned the right to make this decision (to leave) off his own back.

‘He feels the time is right for a new challenge. I don’t know where that is but I am excited to find out because I will definitely go there and watch.’

At 34, Silva’s form appears has been as good as ever this season, even adding extra venom to his free-kicks. Pep Guardiola will hope his successor Phil Foden has been soaking it all in.

Private away from the pitch, perhaps a factor in only twice being named in the PFA team of the season, Silva carried himself with great dignity in 2018 when baby son Mateo was born prematurely and was left fighting for his life, a battle thankfully won.

Silva’s son Mateo was a mascot vs Huddersfield after months fighting for his life

While some players would relish being the centre of attention at a packed Etihad for today’s home game against Norwich, one suspects Silva will take an empty ground in his stride. He still has the Champions League to play for, the ultimate send-off present.

City players showed their respect for Silva – whose 93 Premier League assists have him sixth in the all-time list – by choosing him captain after Kompany left.

There was surprise Guardiola allowed his dressing-room to select but the City manager is clearly happy with the system because he’ll do it again next season when Kevin de Bruyne, Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero and Aymeric Laporte are candidates.

‘The players are so smart, it’s their mates, they know what it needs,’ says Guardiola.

For Lescott, there will be plenty of David Silva memories. The time he got injured trying to make a tackle after Silva dipped his shoulder in training. Playing against him for West Brom and warning team-mate James Morrison his usual tactics wouldn’t work against the magician. The uncharacteristic Silva animation after his first Premier League goal at Blackpool.

‘He is a role model but not only for the obvious reasons you’d assume,’ says Lescott. ‘He’s just so humble, down to earth and approachable.

‘If Phil Foden is able to take some of those traits in regards to David’s qualities, he will be a great person as well as a great person.’