Pep reiterates Silva defence: ‘Mendy is like a brother to Bernardo’

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has again defended Bernardo Silva against accusations of racism following a controversial tweet to club team-mate Benjamin Mendy.

The Portuguese midfielder posted pictures on social media on Sunday comparing Mendy, with whom he also played at Monaco, to the character on a packet of Conguitos chocolates.

Anti-discriminatory body Kick It Out has called on the Football Association to take action against Silva, referring to the contents of the post as a racist stereotype, while the governing body has written to City requesting their observations.

But Guardiola has once more stood up for his player, saying: “The people who judge Bernardo don’t know him. He is an exceptional person.”

Silva received immediate criticism for the post and later deleted it, with a follow-up message reading: “Can’t even joke with a friend these days… You guys…”

And Guardiola added: “If people believe Bernardo is this type of person they are completely wrong. They judge him on one joke, I judge him on three years working with him every single day.

“Benjamin is like a brother to Bernardo. That is what I see every single day.”