When you think of the modern day Manchester City era, one of the names that immediately comes to mind is that of David Silva.
When he arrived in Manchester 9 years ago he came with a big reputation from his time in La Liga with Valencia, but no one would've predicted the impact that he'd go onto make.
395 appearances, 71 goals, 129 assists and 10 major trophies later, he's written himself in City history and the legacy he leaves behind will last forever.
When speaking at a press conferences in Gran Canaria, Silva revealed his plans for the future. The end of next season will mark a decade of service to Manchester City and he believes that seems like the right time to move onto pastures new.
"No, this is the last one," he said when asked if he could stay beyond the 2019/20 campaign. "Ten years for me is enough. It's the perfect time for me."
In November he signed a one-year extension which means he'll be able to walk away from the club on a free transfer at the end of the season, which will be an emotional occasion for both him and the supporters. A return back to Spain is expected which will bring him closer to his family, marking the perfect way to bow out from the game.
His influence and importance to the club simply cannot be underestimated and he revealed that Pep Guardiola was keen to tie him down to a slightly longer deal.
"Initially, City were talking about two years, but I decided to sign another one, so I finished at 10 years," the Spaniard added.
"It completes the cycle. It's a nice round figure. I can never see myself playing against City for another team. So 10 years - that's it."
The spending power that City have has seen several players come and go during his time at the club so it's a huge testament to his ability and personality that he's remained the creative hub and such a vital cog in this side.
He, alongside the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero have become icons of City's dominance over the last decade and with just two of them currently remaining, the fans don't have too much longer left to appreciate them.
Kompany is the most recent one of City's legends to depart the club and the void that he's going to leave is huge. The Belgian was club captain and it looks like Silva is going to take over that honour in his final year at the club which will mean an awful lot to him.
He'll leave the club in a much better state than the one he arrived in, with City looking in excellent shape to cope without arguably their best player of all time. Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and the superb Bernardo Silva are all prime candidates to take his spot in the team and they'll relish the challenge of replacing the legend.
He has such a close affinity with the Manchester City supporters so if he can skipper them to more success it would be the ultimate way to end his time at the Etihad Stadium. He's been one of the key figures in their transformation from nearly men to English footballs most dominant force.
Originally recruited as a no.10, he's adapted to English football and the demands of new managers to change his game and become the ultimate midfielder. But over the last three years in particular under Guardiola he's gone to another level.
He's moved further back as more of a conventional 8 and he's flourished, playing a massive role in City lifting six trophies over the course of the last two seasons, which was capped off with the opening goal in the Citizens' 6-0 FA Cup final win over Watford.
It's going to be an emotional final season for Silva as he ends an unbelievably successful ten year stay at the Etihad Stadium. He'll depart a Premier League legend and all-time City great.
Gracias, Merlin.
