Comparisons to one of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City stars might seem premature for a young talent still carving out his path. However, for Cavan Sullivan, a highly technical, quick-footed teenager, similarities to Bernardo Silva suggest he could be a defining legacy of Txiki Begiristain’s tenure at the Etihad Stadium.
With Begiristain, City’s long-standing director of football, set to leave in 2025, Sporting Lisbon’s Hugo Viana will step into his role. Begiristain’s focus has been on ensuring the Premier League champions remain competitive by building a roster of elite young players. Recent additions include Savinho, Claudio Echeverri, and, reportedly, John Edwin Montano, a Colombian talent expected to join the Belgian club Lommel as he develops.
Meanwhile, Sullivan, a 16-year-old U.S. under-17 international, is already earmarked for a City future. City has secured a deal for Sullivan to join when he turns 18, allowing him to sidestep the transfer speculation that often disrupts young careers. Known for his agility, creativity, and quick thinking, Sullivan recently became the youngest debutant in MLS history, surpassing Freddy Adu’s record.
Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb lists Sullivan among the top three American talents, noting his “excellent technique, dribbling, assists, and goals,” drawing direct comparisons to Bernardo Silva. By 2028, Silva will be 33, and City’s succession plan might just include Sullivan as a key player to carry the torch forward.
Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin has praised Sullivan’s potential, calling him “a household name in the making.” Curtin even suggests Sullivan has captured attention to a degree that might surpass the early impact of AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic. “Cavan has turned even more heads,” Curtin shared, “which is perhaps the highest compliment I can give a young player with so much ahead of him.”
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