"My dream was to play for Real Madrid" - Footballer, Bernardo Silva says during unveiling as Real Madrid player
"My dream was to play for Real Madrid" - Footballer, Bernardo Silva says during unveiling as Real Madrid player
Footballer, Bernardo Silva was officially presented as a Real Madrid player on Wednesday, more than a month after the club announced his signing.
The 32-year-old appeared alongside club president Florentino Pérez at the presentation, with honorary president Pirri and members of Bernardo's family also in attendance. The Portuguese midfielder has signed a contract with Real Madrid through 2028.
Bernardo has already spent several weeks working with his new teammates and featured during preseason, but Wednesday gave him his first opportunity to speak at length about joining the club.
"Since I was little, when you don't know if you're going to be a player, your dream is to play for Real Madrid. I'm very happy to be here," Bernardo said during his presentation.
The former Manchester City midfielder is already very familiar with the Santiago Bernabéu from his years competing against Real Madrid in the Champions League. Bernardo faced Madrid on several occasions during his time in England, including a number of high-profile knockout ties.
This time, however, he was able to experience the club's European history from the perspective of a Real Madrid player.
"I've played here several times already, and seeing the 15 Champions League trophies is always impressive, but seeing them here as a player is even more special. Playing for a club like this isn't for everyone."
Bernardo also spoke about the feeling of arriving at Real Madrid and experiencing the scale of the club from inside.
"When you're in this room, you realize how big Real Madrid is. I already knew it, but here you feel it firsthand."
He finished his remarks with a message for Madridistas and made clear that his focus now turns toward adding more silverware to the club's collection.
"I'm very happy to be here and to soon be playing at the Bernabéu and meeting the fans. Now it's time to work hard to keep winning titles, which is what this club is used to."
The presentation formalizes an arrival that has already begun to take shape on the pitch. Bernardo featured in three preseason matches for Real Madrid, accumulating 192 minutes as José Mourinho experimented with how best to use the Portuguese international.
Rather than operating primarily from the right wing, where he spent significant stretches earlier in his career, Bernardo has been used both centrally and further forward in midfield. His ability to play multiple roles gives Mourinho another technical option between the lines and a player capable of helping Madrid control possession in midfield.
Durability has also been one of Bernardo's strengths. He missed only 11 matches through injury during his nine seasons in England, an encouraging record for a Real Madrid squad that dealt with 54 injuries last season.
Bernardo has already made his competitive Madrid debut, featuring against Ferencváros in a 2-1 victory.
He leaves Manchester City after one of the most successful periods in the English club's history. Bernardo made 460 appearances during his nine years in Manchester, scoring 76 goals and providing 77 assists. His trophy haul included six Premier League titles and the 2022-23 Champions League, the first European Cup in Manchester City's history.
- Linda Ikeji's Blog Original article
