"I’ll take it as a compliment” - John Stones shares hilarious story behind Bernardo Silva naming his dog after him
Manchester City defender John Stones recently shared the story behind his teammate Bernardo Silva naming his dog after him. The England international stated that Silva had made a promise to him about getting a dog and naming it 'John Stones'.
Silva said that he wanted to be able to order his dog around and feel as if he owned John Stones. Surprisingly, the 29-year-old midfielder turned the joke into reality by getting a French Bulldog and naming it 'John'.
In conversation with GOAL, John Stones said:
"He said 'every time I get my dog or shout my dog, I'll think of you and telling you to come to me like I own you'."
Despite the quirky nature of the story, Stones reiterated that they share a very good relationship. He even went on to say that he takes Bernardo Silva naming his dog after him as a compliment, adding:
"We share a good relationship. For him to have a dog and for his missus to accept him to call him John as well, he must like me. So I'll take it as a compliment in some way."
The two have been teammates ever since Bernardo Silva moved to Manchester City in 2017. Stones and Silva have shared the pitch a whopping 159 times, registering 125 wins in that period.
Bernardo Silva was named in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist while John Stones missed out on a nomination
Manchester City had a fairytale 2022-23 season, securing the continental treble, which included their maiden UEFA Champions League title. While several City players made an impact in the Sky Blues' run to the summit, John Stones and Bernardo Silva were two of the most pivotal personnel used by Pep Guardiola.
The Portuguese midfielder made 55 appearances across all competitions last season while Stones featured in 34 matches, owing to his fitness issues. Consequently, Silva made his way into the 30-man Ballon d'Or 2023 shortlist, his third appearance on the list (after 2019 and 2022).
Apart from Silva, six other Manchester City players were included in the shortlist. World Cup winner Julian Alvarez justifiably made the cut, along with Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Rodri, Josko Gvardiol, and Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker is one of the favorites for the honor, which will be announced later this month.