Club have submitted a formal contract offer to the player; salary is a major point in the race
Real Madrid have stepped up their pursuit of Bernardo Silva and are in advanced talks over a deal for the Portugal international after Barcelona cooled their interest in signing the midfielder.
The Spanish champions have submitted a formal contract offer to Silva and are increasingly confident of securing his signature before the start of next season. The 31-year-old became available on a free transfer this summer after leaving Manchester City, ending a decade-long association with the Premier League club.
Silva had been close to join Barcelona, who have tracked him for several years and had been working towards an agreement on a two-year contract. However, the Catalan club are understood to have been unwilling to match his salary demands
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Real Madrid came in for Silva having identified him as a key addition to Jose Mourinho’s squad. The midfielder’s versatility and experience are seen as valuable assets to the club ahead of the new campaign. Madrid’s entry into the race increased the player’s value and, therefore, the level of salary he could ask for.
The latest development comes after Madrid saw a €150m bid, a potential club transfer record, for Atletico forward Julian Alvarez rejected.
Silva is currently representing Portugal at the 2026 World Cup and has previously indicated that a decision on his future would be made after the tournament. Real Madrid are optimistic an agreement can be reached and talks are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
