Sport reports that Bernardo Silva ultimately chose Real Madrid over Barcelona, despite being close to joining Barça last summer. As he prepares for his first El Clásico in a Real Madrid shirt, his situation is far from what he envisioned: he struggles to break into the starting lineup and faces intense midfield competition.
Bernardo Silva's situation has taken an unexpected turn. After receiving a call from Mourinho, he chose to join Real Madrid, only to discover months later that reality fell short of his expectations upon arrival.
Bernardo Silva ended his nine-season stint at Man City before joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. His extensive experience, technical ability, and playmaking skills suggested he would play a central role in Mourinho's plans, but the Portuguese coach's vision did not materialize as anticipated.
"When Real Madrid contacted me, I didn't hesitate," Bernardo Silva said at his Real Madrid unveiling. His decision closed the door on a Barcelona move, and he will now face the Catalan club in the shirt of their arch-rivals. However, his standing at Real Madrid quickly deteriorated.
Mourinho initially included Bernardo Silva in the starting lineup, but his position became complicated after Tchouaméni's return and Güler's emergence in midfield. The Portuguese player subsequently lost his place, receiving only sporadic playing time across several matches.
His reduced role was even evident in his complete absence from matches against Villarreal and Elche, demonstrating that despite his extensive experience at Man City, Bernardo Silva is struggling to secure a stable position at Real Madrid.
Statistics also reflect this decline: after starting the first two rounds, Bernardo Silva has started just two of the 11 matches he was available for, remaining on the bench for the other seven.
His decreased playing time has also affected the Portuguese national team. During the last international break, he played only 8 minutes across four matches, according to reports.
Nevertheless, Bernardo Silva returned to the starting lineup for Wednesday's Champions League match against RB Leipzig and made the most of the opportunity, scoring his first goal in a Real Madrid shirt in their 4-1 victory. This performance could provide him momentum ahead of the El Clásico clash against Barcelona.
However, this goal does not answer questions about his role in Mourinho's plans, particularly in LaLiga, where his playing time remains below expectations and inconsistent with his experience and status at the time of his transfer.
Sunday's match will be a significant test for Bernardo Silva. He needs to prove that he chose Real Madrid for a prominent role, rather than to spend the season watching key matches from the sidelines.