Bernardo Silva has agreed a two-year deal in principle with Real Madrid as Jose Mourinho prepares to start his second spell at the Bernabeu, with the club pushing to finalise the move before Portugal’s World Cup opener against DR Congo.
Bernardo Silva’s future is moving fast, and it is doing so under the sharp timing of a coach determined to change the feel of the dressing room.
Real Madrid are expected to complete the signing of the Man City legend Bernardo Silva to kick off Jose Mourinho’s second spell at the club. Mourinho’s return to the Bernabeu—13 years after his first spell—was confirmed on Thursday evening after the Portuguese boss left Benfica.
Silva has departed Manchester City as a free agent at the end of the season. ending nine years with the club in which he won six Premier League titles. the UEFA Champions League and 20 major honours in total. The 31-year-old has now agreed a deal to join Real Madrid “in principle” after Real made a contract offer. with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also having made proposals.
In the latest shift, Silva has penned a two-year contract, and Real are keen to finalise the transfer before Portugal’s first World Cup game against DR Congo on Wednesday. It is a deadline that matters to Madrid not just for squad planning, but for the tone Mourinho wants to set.
Mourinho is building his second run at Real after last season ended without trophies—and after a trail of divisive arguments that spilled into the dressing room. His stated aim is to improve standards and behaviour. bringing in experience and influence from Silva. the former City captain described in the reporting as a potential stabilising presence.
That need has been sharpened by events inside Madrid’s season. Last month, a fight between Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde ended with Valverde taken to hospital with a head injury.
Silva is not arriving without options—or without evidence that he has been weighing his next step carefully. Represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, he recently confirmed that Barcelona were among the clubs that had made him an offer. After Portugal faced Chile in a pre-World Cup friendly last Saturday. he said: “Barcelona is an option I have. but I haven’t made a decision yet.”.
He continued: “In the end, I’m going to try to find a team where they want me, where I feel truly wanted. That’s very important, and you’ll know the day I make my decision.”
The choice now appears to have been made—while he prepares for the World Cup with Portugal, with DR Congo the first opponent.
The move sits inside a wider reshaping at the Bernabeu after Florentino Perez was re-elected as Real’s president on Sunday evening. That win followed an acrimonious campaign in which Perez vowed to bring back Mourinho as head coach, and promised to sign superstar players.
Real’s recruitment plans are already stacked: they are already said to have agreed deals to sign Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries on free transfers. Earlier this week, Real’s £130million bid for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez was rejected.
This summer is also expected to feature exits. Real are set to lose experienced defenders Dani Carvajal and David Alaba when their contracts expire, while stalwart Dani Ceballos is likely to depart. All of this comes after a trophyless season in which Real finished 12 points behind Barcelona.
Barcelona’s title was sealed after a 2-0 victory over their arch-rivals in an El Clasico encounter at the Nou Camp in May.
For Silva, leaving City was not just a professional ending—it was a deeply personal one. When he left last month. the midfielder broke down in tears on his final appearance for the club. having played 460 times for City. He hailed the “unbelievable” journey over nine years and said: “It’s difficult because nine years. it’s a very long time. I would say that I leave as a Man City supporter.”.
He added: “When I arrived from Portugal, I was a fan of Benfica, but now I can say that for sure that my feelings toward this club are very, very strong.”
Silva said: “I will be supporting Man City for the rest of my life.”
He also spoke of gratitude, saying: “I also have the feeling of being grateful to the club, to the people, to what the fans gave me back. It was just unbelievable.”
Now, that loyalty will be put into a new test, with Real pushing to wrap up the deal before Portugal’s opening World Cup match against DR Congo on Wednesday—exactly the kind of quick, decisive arrival Mourinho will want as he begins to set a new standard at the Bernabeu.
Bernardo Silva Real Madrid Jose Mourinho Man City World Cup Portugal DR Congo Jorge Mendes Florentino Perez Aurelien Tchouameni Federico Valverde Julian Alvarez Ibrahima Konate Denzel Dumfries Dani Carvajal David Alaba Dani Ceballos