Full Breakdown
Mourinho Calls Out Bernardo Silva’s Fitness After Pre-Season Debut
8/10/2026, 12:38:01 PM
Core Event: Mourinho’s Post-Match Assessment
After Real Madrid’s 2–1 preseason win over Ferencváros in Budapest, head coach José Mourinho publicly criticised the physical condition of new signing Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese midfielder, who entered at halftime, was described as “low-level” and “lacking a little physical strength,” prompting Mourinho to shift him to the No. 10 role for the remainder of the match.
Background & Context
Bernardo Silva joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after his Manchester City contract expired in June. The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal that runs until 2028, arriving as one of Mourinho’s priority signings for the upcoming La Liga campaign.
Data & Statistics
- Match result: Real Madrid 2, Ferencváros 1.
- Goal scorers: Mario Rivas (2-0) and Carlos Espí (2-0) for Madrid; Kenan Kodro (1-2) for Ferencváros.
- Silva’s involvement: Substituted in at halftime, played the second half.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that Silva remains a quality player capable of contributing in deeper midfield roles (No. 6 or No. 8) as well as the advanced No. 10 position.
Silva, speaking to Real Madrid TV after the game, expressed happiness with his debut but acknowledged the need to “gain rhythm” and improve his fitness before the La Liga season begins.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Bernardo is a really important player for us, but the poor guy is another one who benefits from not doing anything when they're on holiday,” — José Mourinho, real madrid coach
- “He is very important, but the poor guy is one of those players who benefits mentally from not doing anything during vacation, and he arrived for pre-season at a fairly low physical level,” — José Mourinho, real madrid coach
- “During the game, I realised he was lacking a little physical strength, so I moved him forward to the No. 10 position,” — José Mourinho, real madrid coach
- “The most important thing is his renewal. It’s a joy for him and for all of us. He and Bernardo Silva have only had a few training sessions. The others have had a couple more weeks and are entering the game feeling the fatigue of the work we’ve already done,” — José Mourinho, real madrid coach
- “First of all, I want to thank Ferencvaros for this training session,” — José Mourinho, real madrid coach
Upcoming Fixtures (Scheduled)
- August 13: Friendly against Deportivo La Coruña.
- August 16: Friendly against Schalke 04.
- August 22: La Liga opener away at Espanyol.
- August 23: Home match against Real Sociedad (Mourinho’s first competitive home game).
These dates are drawn from the club’s preseason calendar and mark the immediate timeline for Silva to address the fitness concerns highlighted by Mourinho.
