“Be Careful With Him”: Real Receive Warning Over New Arrival

Rafa Alkorta has welcomed Bernardo Silva’s arrival at Real Madrid with enthusiasm, but the former Los Blancos defender believes the Portuguese midfielder will need the right support if he is to perform at his best throughout the season.

Bernardo Silva is one of Real Madrid’s major new additions this summer. At 32, the experienced Portugal international has arrived to strengthen a midfield that sometimes lacked creativity, control and players capable of making the difference in important moments last season.

José Mourinho has already acknowledged that Bernardo joined the squad slightly behind his teammates in terms of physical condition. For Alkorta, however, there is no doubt about the quality of the signing. The former Real Madrid player, now working as a football pundit, considers Bernardo an exceptional footballer but believes Mourinho must carefully manage his workload.

“He is an exceptional signing, a very complete player, but I have the feeling that he is going to need some help because being at the origin of the moves, especially in the first phase of possession, demands a lot physically,” Alkorta explained.

According to him, Bernardo’s role requires constant movement. The Portuguese midfielder must regularly drop deep to receive the ball, offer passing solutions and dictate the rhythm of Real Madrid’s attacks.

“You have to move a lot, constantly look for the ball and make the rest of the team play at the tempo you want. He is a player who also makes a lot of effort without the ball, so they will have to find the right balance between his defensive work and his creativity.”

That balance could become one of Mourinho’s major tactical challenges this season.

For Alkorta, the biggest danger would be asking Bernardo Silva to do everything at once. Real Madrid want him to participate in the build-up, create chances and provide attacking inspiration, but expecting him to constantly recover possession as well could eventually affect his effectiveness.

“He will need help because if you want him to come up with ideas in attack while also asking him to win the ball back defensively, in the end they are going to burn him out,” Alkorta warned.

Bernardo’s performance against Deportivo La Coruña in the Teresa Herrera Trophy already illustrated the physical demands of his role. Named in the starting lineup, the Portuguese midfielder covered plenty of ground and remained involved both with and without possession.

His willingness to press, recover the ball and contribute creatively offered an early glimpse of what Mourinho could expect from him this season.

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However, managing Bernardo carefully will be crucial. At 32, his experience and technical intelligence remain enormous assets, but Real Madrid will want those qualities available throughout a long campaign rather than exhausted during the opening months.

Mourinho has already admitted that Bernardo has not yet reached his optimal physical level since returning for pre-season. The coming weeks should therefore reveal how the Portuguese coach intends to structure his midfield around him.

For Alkorta, the message is clear: Bernardo Silva can become one of Real Madrid’s most influential players, but only if his teammates help carry the defensive workload and allow him to preserve enough energy to express his creativity where it matters most.