This is the end of a long series which will have animated the whole start of the transfer window. Just before the start of the World Cup, we learned from our colleagues at Football Transfers that Bernardo Silva had said yes to Real Madrid’s proposal. At the end of his contract at Manchester City, the 31-year-old midfielder accepted an offer of a two-year contract, plus an optional year from Casa Blanca. A few hours earlier, however, he had given his word… to Atlético de Madrid.
How did we get there? It’s a story that only the transfer window can offer us. According to the Cadena Serthe player’s plan was to commit definitively to the Colchoneros after weeks of negotiations. He even had to sign a form of commitment from his hotel with his selection “this Thursday morning» reveals Spanish radio. Silva was then seen as Griezmann’s successor to become the team’s new playing master. It was then that the appearance of José Mourinho in this matter turned the tables.
Mourinho, the turning point in this issue
The Special One, whose arrival until 2029 was made official last night by the Merengues, quickly convinced his compatriot to join him. Before that, he asked Florentino Pérez to get his signature. Cityzen was one of his priorities, just like Ibrahima Konaté. It wasn’t that difficult to get him there. They have the same agent, Jorge Mendes, and meeting the salary demands of the future recruit was only a formality. It’s always easier when interests go in the same direction.
The impresario did not hesitate to play a three-cushion billiards game in this matter. From the start of the transfer window, he took advantage of his client’s status as a free player and his good rating on the market to raise offers everywhere. This is where Barça quickly ended negotiations, despite an agreement reached with the player and his clan. Strengthening the environment is not the priority of the Blaugranas who mainly saw it as a market opportunity. They refused the auction game.
Barça irritated by Bernardo Silva’s pike
And then there was this little sentence, undoubtedly far from innocent, dropped by the international (109 caps, 14 goals) last weekend about his future. “I’m going to try to be on a team where they like me, where I feel like they really want me“. The dig is directly addressed to Barça, who knows it very well. The two Madrid clubs were then the last ones still in the race. The arrival of Mourinho, the prestige of Casa Blanca and the conditions barely negotiated by the management of Real have finally tipped the scales.
