"Today is a sad day for me, as I bid farewell to what I have dedicated my entire life to," said Silva in a video. "I say goodbye to my teammates; they are family to me. Thank you for making me feel so at home," concluded the Spaniard, who we know from clubs like Valencia, Manchester City, and Real Sociedad.
It is even more sorrowful because Silva had already announced that he would retire after the upcoming season, and he was set to participate in the Champions League with his club. This would have been Real Sociedad's first appearance in the tournament in ten years. After the injury, there were concerns that Silva might hang up his boots, and now that has become a reality.
The playmaker has an impressive trophy cabinet: four league titles and two FA Cups with Manchester City, the Copa del Rey with Sociedad, and with his national team, he won the Euros in 2008 and 2012, as well as the ultimate prize: the World Cup in 2010.