Jose Mourinho's First Major Signing? Real Madrid Move Ahead In Race For Bernardo Silva - Report

Last Updated:June 12, 2026, 06:57 IST

Bernardo Silva is reportedly edging closer to Real Madrid, with José Mourinho's return helping Los Blancos move ahead of Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the race.

Real Madrid have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Bernardo Silva, with the Portuguese midfielder said to be favouring a move to the Santiago Bernabéu over long-time admirers Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.

According to ESPN, negotiations between Real Madrid and Silva are at an advanced stage, with the 31-year-old expected to become available as a free agent when his Manchester City contract expires later this month.

Silva announced his departure from City after nine trophy-laden seasons in Manchester, immediately attracting interest from clubs across Europe and beyond. Benfica, Galatasaray, teams in Major League Soccer, and clubs from the Saudi Pro League have all been linked with the Portugal international.

However, sources indicate Silva’s preferred destination is now Real Madrid.

Mourinho Factor Changes Picture

Barcelona were previously considered frontrunners for Silva’s signature and reportedly came close to reaching an agreement earlier this summer. The midfielder, however, chose to postpone a final decision until after the FIFA World Cup.

Madrid’s position appears to have strengthened significantly following the return of José Mourinho to the Bernabéu.

ESPN reports that Silva’s potential arrival has become a specific request from Mourinho, whose presence could prove decisive in convincing the midfielder to choose Madrid over their rivals.

Barcelona are now said to be increasingly pessimistic about completing the deal. The Catalan club believe Mourinho can offer Silva a clearer route to regular first-team football than Hansi Flick, who already has options such as Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López in midfield.

Atlético Madrid have also spent weeks in discussions with Silva’s representatives. Diego Simeone reportedly viewed the Portuguese star as a potential successor to Antoine Griezmann’s creative influence.

Why Madrid Want Silva

The Portuguese international remains one of Europe’s most versatile midfielders, capable of operating centrally, in attacking midfield roles or from wide areas. His experience and tactical intelligence would add another layer to a squad already featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham.

The deal also makes financial sense. With no transfer fee required, Madrid would be acquiring one of Europe’s most decorated midfielders at minimal cost.

A Decorated Career

Since joining Manchester City from Monaco in 2017, Silva has won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the UEFA Champions League. He played a crucial role in City’s historic treble-winning campaign in 2022-23.

At international level, he has been a cornerstone of Portugal’s success and was named Player of the Tournament when his country won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019.

While an agreement is reportedly in place, Silva is expected to wait until after Portugal’s World Cup campaign before completing the formalities of the move.

About the Author

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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