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Jose Mourinho still hasn’t settled on his preferred midfield setup at Real Madrid, and the uncertainty has placed one high-profile arrival under scrutiny. Aurelien Tchouameni and Fede Valverde have been the default partnership, offering physicality and ball recovery but little in the way of creative spark. Bernardo Silva, signed in the summer with considerable expectations, was meant to supply exactly that missing ingredient. Instead, the Portuguese veteran has struggled to break into the side on a consistent basis.
According to MARCA, Mourinho has not written off the 32-year-old despite his limited minutes so far this season.
Bernardo Silva has fallen down the pecking order
Mourinho remains confident he can extract the best version of Bernardo. Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Roma could offer a clear signal of how the manager intends to use him moving forward.
Madrid moved aggressively to secure Bernardo over the summer, pulling the deal away while he looked set to join Atletico Madrid instead. Mourinho wanted a technically gifted, versatile midfielder who could retain possession and add control to the engine room.
Dani Ceballos’ exit opened a spot in the squad, and the failed pursuit of Rodri made a player with Bernardo’s profile even more necessary.
The signing has yet to produce the expected impact. Mourinho suggested during pre-season that Bernardo had arrived short of peak physical condition, and his playing time has shrunk considerably since then.
He hasn’t started a match since the 12 September fixture against Rayo Vallecano. His only appearance since that date came in an eight-minute cameo during the Madrid derby. He sat as an unused substitute in games against Elche and Villarreal.
The international break brought no relief either. Across four Nations League wins with Portugal, Bernardo was limited to just seven minutes on the pitch.
Mourinho still searching for his ideal role
Finding the right position for Bernardo has proven one of the toughest puzzles for Mourinho this season.
He initially paired Bernardo with Valverde in a double pivot, banking on his passing range and positional awareness to improve Madrid’s build-up play. That combination failed to deliver the defensive solidity Mourinho wanted.
The manager has also looked at deploying Bernardo in a more advanced role. Competition for attacking spots has intensified though, leaving him without an opening there as well.
The odds are stacked against him right now. Mourinho still believes Bernardo can become a key piece of this Madrid side.
Roma clash offers an opportunity to change the narrative
Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against Roma could reveal whether Mourinho is ready to hand Bernardo a genuine opportunity to prove his worth.
The midfielder missed Madrid’s previous European outing against Inter through suspension. His experience at the top level could carry real value in a match like this one.
Madrid’s recent form suggests the team still lacks precisely what Bernardo was brought in to provide. Arda Guler brings creativity of his own, but much of Madrid’s attacking output still relies heavily on individual moments rather than collective build-up.
Bernardo could help fix that imbalance if Mourinho finds him a role centrally, one that lets him receive the ball and link midfield with the forward line.
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Whether the 32-year-old gets that chance against Roma, and how his role develops from there, remains to be seen. Stick with TipsGG for the latest on Real Madrid’s midfield situation and everything else from the Champions League.