Portuguese connections - Mourinho snatches Bernardo Silva from under his neighbor's nose

Jose Mourinho was promoted to Real Madrid coach two days ago, and he has already strengthened the team with three players - Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahim Konate, who will be joined by Bernardo Silva.

Mourinho spent only 20 million euros on his first three signings for Dumfries, with Konate and Silva arriving as free agents.

The Portuguese snatched the Manchester City icon "from under the noses" of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, and the brilliant midfielder was given a two-plus-year contract. And an important role in the team, as promised by his compatriot Mourinho.

At the Hotel Santo Mauro in Madrid on June 9, Mourinho, agent Jorge Mendes, Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez and the club's technical secretary Huni Calafata, ESPN has learned, agreed to a move for Bernardo Silva.

He has already undergone medical examinations at the Portugal selection camp in the USA.

According to Cadena SER radio, Silva was supposed to reach an agreement with Atletico on June 11, but the player informed the "colchoneros" of his decision to sign for Real.

According to insiders, this was difficult for Atletico, as they saw Bernardo Silva as a replacement for Antoine Griezmann.

Real Madrid did not want Bernardo Silva in May, but Mourinho personally persuaded president Florentin Perez, as he is considering two options for the player - on the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation, and in one of the two last-midfield positions in a 4-2-3-1 scheme.

The role of the last midfielder is not new to Silva, having already played alongside Rodri. Real Madrid are not done with their purchases, with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandes and West Ham's Mateusz Fernandes also on their radar.