Former Portugal coach explains why Bernardo Silva will succeed at Real Madrid

Former Portugal coach explains why Bernardo Silva will succeed at Real Madrid Last summer, Real Madrid bade farewell to one of the most beloved and influential players in their recent history, the midfielder Luka Modric, who left the club after having spent 13 years in the white shirt. Replacing him was always going to be impossible, and the Merengue team really missed his presence in the team as they went without a single trophy last season. This summer, Los Blancos have tried to mitigate the impact of his departure by bringing in another highly competent player, i.e., the midfielder Bernardo Silva, who joined Real Madrid after completing his contract with Manchester City. He has arrived at the Merengue club with very high hopes, but it remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho will be able to bring out the best of him in the white shirt. Meanwhile, another coach who has worked with him for a long time, Fernando Santos, had no doubts that his compatriot would have a very fruitful time in the Spanish capital. The former Portugal national team coach appeared in an interview with Diario AS , in which he was specifically asked about the new Real Madrid signing. Santos defined Silva in the following words:  “Everyone already knows him as a footballer. He has immense quality and sees football in a way that very few players in the world do. His standards as a player are so high that it is difficult to say he is at the same level as a person, but in his case, it is true. He is attentive, polite, kind, and always has a smile on his face. On a personal and human level, he is one of the best footballers I have met throughout my career. Real Madrid have signed a phenomenon in every sense.” The former Portugal coach clearly identified one aspect that makes his compatriot such a special player: “His intelligence. He is an extremely strong player technically and extraordinary tactically. He understands the game very well and can read every match situation perfectly. He always knows what to do with the ball and how to position himself when he does not have it. I have used him as a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder, and even as a winger, and his performances have been excellent in every position.” Santos believed despite his 31 years of age, Silva is still one of the best players in Europe: “From what I have seen this season at City, I would say yes. I know him perfectly well, and I am convinced that he still has many great years ahead of him. He remains at the peak of his career and will prove it. For me, he is still one of the best players in the world. I think Real Madrid have made the right decision with his signing, and he will contribute a lot to the team.” When asked about his position, the Portuguese tactician believed he performs the best as an attacking midfielder, but can also play well in a deeper role: “Because of his understanding of the game and his ability, he could do it without any problem. In fact, we already saw for a while against Uzbekistan that Bruno and he were the midfield pairing. Alongside a more defensive, positional midfielder, he could organise the team’s play perfectly, but in my opinion, he is more effective the closer he is to the opponent’s goal.” Although not very powerful physically, Santos ensured Silva can contribute to defense as well: “He has shown that throughout his time at City. He may appear physically fragile, but on the pitch he puts in a huge amount of effort and always puts his qualities at the service of the team. He never avoids a run and often intercepts opposition passes because of his ability to position himself on the pitch and anticipate the opponents’ moves.” While avoiding a direct comparison, the former Portugal manager still mentioned two areas in which Silva resembles Modric: “I do not like comparing footballers too much because each player has their own characteristics, but it is obvious that they have similarities in their style of play. I would say the two main ones, which they share, are their exceptional technical quality and their commitment to the team.” Lastly, Santos was quite confident that Real Madrid fans will quickly fall in love with their new signing: “I am. I think the Madrid fans, who understand football deeply and have seen the best players in the world pass through their stadium, will love Bernardo Silva. I believe he will not disappoint and will comfortably meet the expectations placed on him. He will certainly be very motivated because he likes challenges, and the one ahead of him is a huge one. He is a magnificent player, a footballer of great stature. And he will prove it in white.” These comments from Fernando Santos, who has worked for such a long time with Bernardo Silva, will definitely reassure Real Madrid fans about their new signing’s quality, especially as he did not have a World Cup 2026 campaign to remember.