José Mourinho, set to take charge at Real Madrid, has personally reached out to Bernardo Silva about joining him at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Silva, 31, is available on a free transfer after leaving Manchester City following nine years that included multiple Premier League titles.
From cold call to priority target
About two months ago, Jorge Mendes, Silva’s agent, floated the idea of his client joining Real Madrid. The club reportedly said no, largely because there was no clarity on who would be managing the team.
Mourinho’s impending arrival changed the calculus entirely. Once his appointment became clear, Silva went from rejected pitch to primary transfer target. The personal contact between Mourinho and Silva was not a message relayed through intermediaries or a vague expression of interest planted in the press.
