Jose Mourinho faces a tactical dilemma at Real Madrid as Bernardo Silva struggles to secure a regular place in the starting XI following his free transfer from Manchester City. The Portuguese midfielder initially provided a solution when Aurelien Tchouameni was unavailable, but the Frenchman’s return has increased competition in the heart of Madrid’s midfield. With Fede Valverde also playing a crucial role, finding a permanent position for Bernardo could require Mourinho to sacrifice one of his preferred options.

Bernardo’s importance became particularly noticeable during Madrid’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid. He only appeared during the final 15 minutes, yet Madrid produced one of their strongest spells of possession during that period despite playing with 10 men. His ability to retain the ball, dictate tempo and connect different areas of the pitch could offer Mourinho an additional way to improve Madrid’s control during difficult matches.

Although Bernardo was not specifically brought in to become Madrid’s main creative force, his experience in midfield makes him a valuable tactical option. He played 264 of his 460 appearances for Manchester City as a midfielder, accounting for around 57 percent of his total appearances. However, his opportunities at Madrid have been limited, with 282 minutes played before the international break after starting the opening league matches against Espanyol and Real Sociedad and only once featuring from the beginning against Rayo Vallecano.

The main obstacle is maintaining the balance provided by Tchouameni and Valverde, who contribute physical strength, defensive protection and tactical versatility. With Madrid already possessing several attack-minded players, Mourinho must carefully consider how Bernardo can be integrated without weakening the double-pivot structure that gives the team stability. The challenge after the international break will be finding a system that allows Bernardo to influence possession while preserving the defensive security of the midfield.