Mourinho’s Real Madrid close in on Bernardo Silva deal – report | OneFootball

Bernardo could be headed to Madrid [Getty Images]

Portugal international Bernardo Silva could be set for a sensational union with José Mourinho at Real Madrid, after the Spanish giants reportedly advanced talks to sign the midfielder on a free transfer this summer.

Bernardo is out of contract after ending a nine-year stint in England with Manchester City, making him the standout free agent on the market this summer. Clubs such as Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have been strongly linked as possible destinations, while Bernardo has also attracted interest from Turkiye and Brazil.

However, José Mourinho’s impending arrival at Real Madrid could prove vital in deciding Bernardo’s future. According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Real are “in advanced talks” to sign Bernardo Silva as of the past 24 hours, with the intention to close the deal “as soon as possible” for the 31-year-old.

It should be noted that Italian journalist Romano is believed to have good connections with Bernardo’s agent Jorge Mendes. Indeed, on Wednesday evening Romano accelerated the news that Mendes client Cesar Peixoto would be leaving Gil Vicente to take over as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, where Mendes is a strong influence, after which Wolves swiftly announced the surprise departure of boss Rob Edwards to much controversy.

Romano says Real are confident in bringing Bernardo to the Santiago Bernabeu, with Mourinho a factor in potentially swaying the deal. Mourinho reportedly sees the Portugal man as a crucial figure in leadership, required to help the club wrestle the La Liga title back from arch rivals Barcelona next season.

Bernardo had previously intimated that he would rather make a firm decision on his future after the World Cup, but recent reports suggest there has been a change of mind in the player’s camp. For Real’s part, the intention is to close the signing as soon as possible, not least due to lingering interest from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.