Real Madrid is set to finalize the signing of Bernardo Silva from Manchester City, marking a significant move as Jose Mourinho embarks on his second tenure at the club. The Portuguese manager's return to the Bernabeu was confirmed on Thursday after he departed from Benfica.

Silva's Departure from City

After a successful nine-year spell at Manchester City, where he secured six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, and a total of 20 major honors, Silva has left the club as a free agent. Reports indicate that the 31-year-old midfielder has reached an agreement on a two-year contract with Real Madrid, with the club eager to finalize the transfer ahead of Portugal's opening World Cup match against DR Congo on Wednesday.

Mourinho's Vision for Improvement

Mourinho aims to leverage Silva's experience and leadership to enhance standards and behavior within the Madrid dressing room, especially following a challenging season that saw the team finish without silverware and involved several internal conflicts. This included a notable incident last month where Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde clashed, resulting in Valverde being hospitalized due to a head injury.

While Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also expressed interest in Silva, he had previously stated that he would delay any decisions regarding his future until after the World Cup. Silva's agent, Jorge Mendes, has been instrumental in facilitating discussions, and the midfielder recently acknowledged Barcelona as a potential option but emphasized the importance of feeling wanted by a club.

This signing comes on the heels of Florentino Perez's re-election as Real Madrid's president, during which he pledged to bring Mourinho back as head coach and to pursue high-profile signings. The club is reportedly also in talks to secure free transfers for Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries, while a substantial bid for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez was turned down earlier this week. With several key players, including Dani Carvajal and David Alaba, set to leave, the summer promises to be an active one for Real Madrid as they seek to rebound from a season that saw them finish 12 points behind their rivals, Barcelona.