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By Ishaan Kapoor — 9 August 2026 — 3 min read

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has commented on the physical condition of new signing Bernardo Silva following his debut for the club. Silva made his first appearance in a pre-season match against Ferencváros, where Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory in Budapest. Mourinho indicated that the Portuguese midfielder is currently behind in his physical preparation after his summer break, though he expressed no doubts about Silva’s overall quality.

Silva joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this summer after his contract with Manchester City expired. During the match, he came on at half-time, replacing Brahim Díaz, and played for 48 minutes. Initially, Silva operated in a deeper midfield role before Mourinho adjusted his position to the No. 10 role.

Silva’s Debut and Manager’s Assessment

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the friendly, Mourinho explained that Silva has only had a few days of training and is working to regain full fitness. He noted that Silva’s vacation period meant he returned in a lower physical condition than usual, requiring him to improve. Despite this, Mourinho highlighted Silva’s potential, referring to him as a “tremendous player.”

The decision to move Silva to a more advanced position during the second half was a tactical one. Mourinho explained that Silva’s ability to play as a 6, an 8, or a 10 offers valuable versatility to the squad. He emphasized that having a player who can perform well in multiple positions is ideal for a coach.

Silva himself expressed happiness about his debut, acknowledging that it was just the first step in a new chapter. He stressed the importance of gaining match rhythm to be well-prepared for the start of the season. He also highlighted the need to familiarize himself with his new teammates and understand their playing styles, which he described as crucial for effective teamwork.

Player’s Focus and Club’s Transfer Strategy

Despite the public assessment of his fitness, Silva described joining Real Madrid as an opportunity he could not decline. The Portugal international stated his pride in wearing the club’s shirt and is now focused on achieving full match sharpness. His immediate goal is to build his physical rhythm before Real Madrid commences their La Liga campaign with an away fixture against Espanyol later this month.

Real Madrid has made several significant additions this summer, including Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. However, Mourinho indicated that he still desires another versatile midfielder for the squad. He aims for a compact squad of 20 players, in addition to those currently injured, such as Rodrygo, Éder Militão, and Ferland Mendy.

Mourinho’s desire for another midfielder reportedly intensified after Rodri chose to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid during the summer transfer window. The club still has pre-season matches scheduled against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke 04 before the start of their league season. Mourinho’s comments, while acknowledging Silva’s current physical state, also underscored the reasons for acquiring the experienced midfielder, particularly his versatility and tactical intelligence, qualities highly valued by the new Real Madrid coach.

Silva confirmed his commitment to preparing in the best possible way to ensure a strong start to the season.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com