David Silva commits long term future

There was big transfer news yesterday with the confirmation of the signing of Eliaquim Mangal. Hot on the heels of that comes the very welcome news that David Silva has committed his long term future to the club.

Silva has agreed a new deal that will take him through to 2019, meaning he will be approaching a decade at City at the end of the deal.

You have to love Silva's comments following the annoucement:

"From the moment I joined the club four years ago it has felt like a second home to me.

"On and off the pitch, I feel incredibly content and fulfilled professionally and personally, so why wouldn't I want to stay and keep winning trophies with this fantastic team?

"Over the last four years, we have achieved so much together, establishing City as a dominating force in England and now, when I look around this dressing room, I can see no reason why we won't become one of the top teams in the world.

"It was a straightforward decision to extend my stay here and spend my peak years at Manchester City, a club with unbelievable fans who have always supported me."

It is easy to be cynical but you do get the sense that Silva genuinely does have a great affinity and affection for the club. Not for him a role as a malcontent or an agitator; never generating controversial headlines.

Silva will be 33 come the end of this contract and if he maintains (or even improves) his level of play since he signed from Valencia (for £24million should we forget) he will undeniably carve his name as one of the greatest players to every play for the club - if not the greatest.