Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is said to have settled on Bernardo Silva as his top choice to fill the void created by Rodri’s rejected move to the capital.
AS claims that Silva was identified as a target earlier in the transfer discussions with Madrid officials, and he has since been recognized as an option for the anchorman midfield position that Rodri had been lined up for.
While Silva is not a direct substitute for Rodri and lacks the same defensive attributes, Mourinho is believed to feel that his technical skill set, intelligence, and capacity to work without the ball will make him a suitable option to partner with Aurelien Tchouameni in deep midfield.
Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona, following nearly two weeks of discussions with Madrid, led the Spanish side to consider alternatives for the role.
Even with Silva being lined up, Real Madrid are unlikely to completely neglect the transfer market, with many weeks still left until the window closes. The club is also reportedly keeping an eye on younger prospects such as Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit, and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi.
However, it is understood that for the time being, Silva is Mourinho’s first choice to take charge of the midfield transformation.
The Portuguese midfielder has a history of playing deeper in midfield throughout his career and could offer Madrid an alternate option to assert control and retain possession.
For now, Mourinho seems willing to put his trust in Silva to steer Madrid’s engine room.
