Budapest: Real Madrid's Mourinho assesses new sign...

By Rohan Gupta — 9 August 2026 — 3 min read

Mourinho’s assessment of Bernardo Silva’s debut

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has commented on the physical condition of new signing Bernardo Silva following his debut in a pre-season victory against Ferencváros in Budapest. Mourinho indicated that the Portuguese midfielder is not yet at his usual physical standards after his summer break, though he expressed no doubts about Silva’s quality.

Silva’s first appearance for Real Madrid came during the club’s 2-1 pre-season win. He joined the team on a free transfer earlier this summer after his contract with Manchester City expired. Silva entered the match at half-time, replacing Brahim Díaz, and played for 48 minutes. Initially, he operated in a deeper midfield role before Mourinho moved him to the No. 10 position.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Mourinho explained that Silva is still working to regain full fitness. He noted that Silva had only a few days of training after his holidays. Mourinho stated, according to Diario SPORT, that Silva tends to completely disconnect during his vacations, which resulted in him returning in a lower physical condition than usual. Despite this, Mourinho affirmed Silva is a “tremendous player” who needs to improve his physical state.

Mourinho’s decision to move Silva further forward in the second half was a tactical one. He explained that Silva offers good ball distribution and can play as a No. 6 or No. 8. However, during the match, Mourinho observed that Silva lacked physical strength, prompting the move to the No. 10 position. Mourinho highlighted the advantage of having a player like Silva who can perform well in multiple positions, describing it as “perfect” for a coach.

Silva’s focus on fitness and versatility

Despite the public comments regarding his fitness, Bernardo Silva expressed his enthusiasm for joining Real Madrid, calling it an opportunity he could not decline. The Portugal international conveyed his pride in wearing the club’s shirt and stated his immediate priority is to achieve full match sharpness for the upcoming season.

Silva is concentrating on building his physical rhythm before Real Madrid commences their La Liga campaign. Their first league match is scheduled to be an away fixture against Espanyol later this month. Mourinho’s comments, while highlighting Silva’s need for physical improvement, also underscored the reasons for the club’s pursuit of the experienced midfielder: his versatility and tactical intelligence, qualities highly valued by the new coach.

Silva has demonstrated mastery in several positions throughout his career, primarily recognized as a No. 10 or wide midfielder. Mourinho hopes that, in his advancing years, Silva can also effectively operate in the No. 6 or No. 8 roles when required. This versatility is seen as crucial, especially given that Real Madrid will not be signing Rodri this summer, who reportedly opted to join Barcelona instead.

Mourinho’s starting midfield trio for three pre-season matches against Leganés, Fiorentina, and Ferencváros has included Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Arda Güler. However, with Silva now reporting for duty and Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni nearing their return after post-World Cup breaks, Mourinho anticipates having more options in midfield.

Squad depth and future plans

While Real Madrid has significantly strengthened its squad this summer with the arrivals of Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí, Mourinho indicated a desire for another versatile midfielder. He aims for a compact squad of 20 players, in addition to those currently injured, such as Rodrygo, Éder Militão, and Ferland Mendy.

Mourinho emphasized the need for a player who can replicate Silva’s ability to play in various positions. This desire for additional midfield depth reportedly intensified after Rodri chose Barcelona over Real Madrid during the summer transfer window. Mourinho’s approach often involves openly challenging players to motivate them, a style that has been a hallmark of his career.

Before beginning their La Liga season, Real Madrid has upcoming pre-season fixtures against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke 04.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com