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Real Madrid have reportedly taken the lead in the pursuit of Bernardo Silva, moving ahead of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid after presenting a formal contract offer to the Manchester City star, who is set to leave the club. Jose Mourinho is believed to be strongly advocating for the signing of the Portuguese midfielder as he prepares for his return to the Santiago Bernabeu as head coach.

Jose Mourinho is said to be at the forefront of Real Madrid’s efforts, with the club officially joining the race for Silva by submitting a concrete proposal to the 31-year-old following his departure from Manchester City. This move is largely driven by Mourinho’s influence, as the incoming Madrid manager — a fellow Portuguese and long-time admirer of Silva — is keen to make him a central part of his squad rebuild at the Bernabeu.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid are now in advanced discussions to secure Silva on a free transfer. This represents a major twist in a transfer saga that appeared to be leaning towards Barcelona, but the prospect of reuniting with Mourinho and playing for one of the world’s biggest clubs has reportedly made Silva reconsider his next move.

Barcelona’s previous advantage in the race for Silva now faces serious threat. For several months, the Catalan giants looked like the most likely destination for the Portuguese international. Reports earlier this year suggested that Barcelona had reached an agreement in principle to sign Silva, with the player even agreeing to a significant pay cut to make the move possible. However, Real Madrid’s formal involvement has now put pressure on Barcelona’s position as favourites to land the midfielder.

Silva’s agent, Jorge Mendes, had earlier mentioned that his client would take his time before committing to a new project. The direct involvement of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has reignited the battle between the two El Clasico rivals. Although Atletico Madrid are still monitoring the situation and Turkish side Galatasaray are understood to have offered a more lucrative three-year contract, the decision now seems to lie between the two La Liga powerhouses.

Silva leaves Manchester City as a true club legend, having spent nine successful years under Pep Guardiola. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League, among a total of 20 major trophies, marking one of the most decorated periods in the club’s history.

Last week, the 31-year-old confirmed that he had not yet decided on his next club, saying that he wanted to find a team “where they really love me” once the 2026 World Cup concludes.

Currently, Silva’s focus remains on representing Portugal at the World Cup in North America. He has made it clear that he won’t let transfer speculation distract him from his international duties. His agent Mendes reiterated earlier this month that Silva would only make a final decision on his future after the World Cup, suggesting that the transfer saga still has several twists left before it concludes.