Jose Mourinho is reportedly looking to Bernardo Silva to help fix Real Madrid’s problems in midfield after the team struggled for control and creativity against Inter Milan.
According to Madrid Universal on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Mourinho believes the Portuguese midfielder could become an important part of his plans as Real Madrid look for more balance in the middle of the pitch.
Madrid’s Champions League meeting with Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu exposed some of the team’s weaknesses in midfield. The game became an open and unpredictable contest, with Madrid struggling to dictate the tempo.
Thibaut Courtois once again had to produce a number of important saves to keep his side in the game, while Madrid’s attackers also failed to take advantage of several chances.
Bernardo missed the match through suspension, while Arda Guler and Eduardo Camavinga were also unavailable.
In Bernardo’s absence, Mourinho pushed Trent into a more advanced position alongside Federico Valverde. However, the change did little to give Madrid the creativity they needed.
The situation has increased the importance of Bernardo, particularly after Madrid failed to sign Rodri during the summer.
The Portuguese midfielder arrived at the Bernabeu as a free agent after his spell with Manchester City, where he became one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted players. Madrid eventually won the race for his signature despite reported interest from Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and other clubs.
His start to life in Spain has been fairly quiet, though. Bernardo has played just 205 minutes across four matches, starting two of them.
His best performances came during pre-season, when he showed his ability to control the game and help the team move the ball around the midfield as the players adapted to Mourinho’s tactics.
He has featured for only a little over 30 minutes across Madrid’s last three games, with Mourinho believed to be taking his time as the midfielder works towards full fitness.
The Madrid boss is also not currently considering moving Guler into a deeper midfield role. Mourinho prefers to keep the Turkish youngster closer to the opposition box, where he can have more influence in the final third.
That could leave Bernardo with an even bigger role in Madrid’s build-up play.
After a demanding season with Manchester City and his international commitments, the midfielder still has some work to do before reaching his best physical condition. But once he is fully fit and settled, Mourinho will be hoping Bernardo can provide the control and creativity his midfield has been missing.
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