Manchester City and Spanish midfielder David Silva have announced his retirement from International football with his country Spain.
The midfielder who made this announcement via his social media page thanked fans and the Spanish FA for the opportunities to wear the country’s colour. His decision to retire at 32 after Iniesta and Pique who announced their retirement a few days ago, could signal a possible mass exit from the Spanish team, after a disappointing world cup outing in Russia.
David Silva like Iniesta and Pique, was part of the Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and 2008 and 2012 European Championship titles and has 125 caps, scoring 35 goals, 90 wins for Spain.
The Manchester City midfielder calls his decision a difficult one, saying:
“I lived and dreamed with a team that will forever be remembered,”
“It has not been easy, after all I’ve experienced, to write these lines,” he wrote in a social media post.
“I’ve spent days and weeks considering this. The national team gave me everything and helped me grow as a player and a person.
“I leave proud and happy, bringing an end to a time full of emotions and memories, like of the figure of Luis Aragones, a maestro who will never be forgotten.”
According to a farewell message from the Spanish FA, David Silva is known as the “Arguineguín Magician” in Spain, and arrived the Spanish side at age 15.
As an U-17, he played in the finals of the Finnish World Cup, he was proclaimed European U19 Champion in 2004 and as U21 he excelled in his scoring role, netting 9 goals in 7 international appearances.