Budapest: Mourinho comments on Real Madrid signing’s physical condition after debut
Mourinho assesses Bernardo Silva’s debut
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 Real Madrid shirt during a pre-season friendly against Ferencváros in Budapest, which Real Madrid won 2-1. Mourinho indicated that the Portuguese midfielder needs to improve his physical fitness after returning from his summer break.
Silva joined Real Madrid on a free transfer earlier this summer after his contract with Manchester City expired. He entered the match at half-time, replacing Brahim Díaz, and played for 48 minutes. Initially, Silva operated in a deeper midfield role before Mourinho moved him to the No. 10 position during the second half.
Speaking after the match, Mourinho explained that Silva had not accumulated many minutes on the field and had only participated in a few training sessions. He noted that Silva had taken a complete break during his holidays, which resulted in him presenting in a lower physical condition than usual. Despite this, Mourinho expressed confidence in Silva’s quality, calling him a “tremendous player” who needs to grow into his fitness.
Silva’s versatility highlighted
Mourinho’s decision to move Silva to the No. 10 position was a deliberate tactical choice. The coach explained that Silva’s versatility allows him to play in multiple roles, including as a No. 6 or No. 8, and that having a player who can perform well in three or four positions is ideal for a coach. This adaptability was a key reason why Real Madrid pursued the experienced midfielder.
Silva himself 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 in preparation for the upcoming season. 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.
Mourinho’s comments also underscored the value he places on Silva’s tactical intelligence and ability to contribute to the team’s build-up play, even from a deeper position. The coach acknowledged that while Silva currently lacks physical strength, his overall quality and versatility are highly regarded.
Squad additions and future plans
This summer, Real Madrid has significantly strengthened its squad with several new arrivals, including Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. Despite these additions, Mourinho indicated a desire for another versatile midfielder to further bolster the team. This need reportedly became more pressing after Rodri opted to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid.
Mourinho aims for a compact squad of 20 players, accounting for those who may be injured, such as Rodrygo, Militao, and Ferland Mendy. The coach emphasized the importance of having players like Silva who can cover multiple positions effectively.
The current starting midfield trio for Mourinho in pre-season matches has included Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Arda Güler. However, with Silva now integrated and Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni expected to return soon following their post-World Cup breaks, Mourinho anticipates having more options available. Real Madrid still has pre-season fixtures scheduled against Deportivo La Coruña and Schalke 04 before the start of their league campaign.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
