David Silva, goal and MVP in his sporadic return to the field at 40 years old
Three and a half years after playing his last official match, David Silva40, staged a sporadic ‘return’ to the playing fields this weekend, in a league match. Hong Kong with the Supreme Sha Tinin which despite already being in quarantine, he once again showed his magic and even converted a penalty to give his team the tie against the Hong Kong Rangers.
He ‘wizard of Arguineguín’who signed a short-term contract (in principle for one match), was even declared MVP of the match, played on Saturday at the Kai Tak Sports Park stadium, whose stands were filled with 4,593 spectators to see the Spanish international.
The former player, among others, of Valencia, Manchester City and Real Sociedadwho played his last official match with the Basque team in May 2023, and who decided to hang up his boots due to a tear in the cruciate ligament in his left knee, accepted this Asian proposal, in which he started and played 84 minutes. He advanced to Supreme Sha Tin at 56 by converting a maximum penalty, but in the end he could not win (1-1).
His participation has received numerous praises and it has even been commented that his goal “will forever remain in the history books.” In fact, the ‘South China Morning Post’ noted that Silva “showed his usual poise” and that “his touch and passing have not been affected by his absence.”
Their coach, Tom Ballantyne explained that they had to quickly explain to the world and European champion how the team played, the space in which they would move and how they would try to play with him. “But he is a very intelligent player. Everything has been incredible, the expectation he has generated, filling the stadium and having more than 1,000 people in training,” he said.
