Real Madrid News
Mourinho looking at Real Madrid summer signing to address key issue – report
According to MARCA, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is eagerly awaiting the best version of Bernardo Silva.
The Portuguese midfielder, who arrived in the summer, is expected to become a key figure in a Real Madrid side that is still searching for greater control and creativity in midfield.
Inter Milan game exposed Real Madrid’s weakness
Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Inter Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu highlighted what many see as the major weakness of Mourinho’s new Real Madrid.
The lack of control in midfield turned the match into a chaotic contest, with the Merengues ultimately surviving thanks in large part to another outstanding performance from Thibaut Courtois.
While the forwards were guilty of wasting several opportunities, Real Madrid struggled to manage the game for long periods.
And, Mourinho believes he has an answer to that problem in Bernardo Silva.
Bernardo’s absence was badly felt
Bernardo missed the Inter match through suspension, alongside Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga.
With the midfield depleted, Mourinho tried to compensate by pushing Trent further forward to help Federico Valverde with the creative duties.
The experiment did not work particularly well, and it is unlikely to be repeated unless circumstances leave Mourinho with no alternative.
The failure to sign Rodri was a blow for Real Madrid, but the club and Mourinho believed they had at least partially addressed the problem by securing Bernardo’s arrival earlier in the summer.
The Portuguese midfielder had been the creative heartbeat of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, and Real Madrid won the race for his signature despite competition from Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and other clubs.
A slow start, but Mourinho needs Bernardo’s creativity
Mourinho’s intervention proved decisive in persuading Bernardo to choose Real Madrid, but his influence in the team has been limited so far.
The coach publicly called out the midfielder for not working hard enough physically during the pre-season, which may help explain his modest involvement at the start of the campaign.
Bernardo has played just 205 minutes across four matches, starting two of them.
His best performances actually came during pre-season, when he stood out as the team’s new metronome while the squad was still adapting to Mourinho’s ideas.
That process is continuing, with Bernardo playing only a little over half an hour across Real Madrid’s last three matches.
The Portuguese is being eagerly awaited by his manager, particularly because Mourinho does not currently plan to move Guler into a deeper role.
The coach believes Guler is more effective when operating closer to goal, although he sees the Turkish international eventually playing in a deeper role.
For now, though, that leaves Bernardo with an important responsibility in the build-up.
After playing more than 50 matches for Manchester City last season, and then participating in the World Cup he still needs to build his physical condition before taking on a greater role in Real Madrid’s midfield, with Mourinho waiting for his best version.
Real Madrid youngster Endrick continues to attract interest from several clubs ahead of another potential loan move in the upcoming January transfer window.
The latest side considering a move for the Brazilian forward is Aston Villa.
Indeed, according to reports relayed by Bernabeu Digital, the Premier League club are interested in signing the Real Madrid striker on loan in January.
No minutes for Endrick
Endrick has had very limited opportunities under Jose Mourinho this season. Across Real Madrid’s nine matches in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, the Brazilian has played just four minutes, coming on in the 86th minute against Elche.
Such limited playing time has left the young forward struggling to gain the minutes and experience needed to develop his talent at Real Madrid.
As such, another loan move, like last January when he left for Olympique Lyon, could offer him a chance to play more regularly and continue his progression.
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, have now emerged as an interested party to acquire the Brazilian international’s services on loan for the second half of the season.
AC Milan also interested in Endrick
Howver, Aston Villa are not the only club monitoring Endrick’s situation. AC Milan have also renewed their interest in the Brazilian forward.
The Rossoneri already held an interest in the 20-year-old forward during the summer transfer window and are knocking on the doors once again now.
In fact, some reports in Italy even go on to suggest that the youngster is ready to pounce on the opportunity to sign for the Serie A giants.
For now, however, there have been no concrete developments or formal approaches from any interested club.
Real Madrid are understood to be open to allowing Endrick to leave on loan, but they are not considering a permanent sale as they still have a lot of faith in the promising attacker whom they signed from Palmeiras.
With Aston Villa and AC Milan both interested, the coming months could prove important in determining where the young Brazilian will continue his development.
