The role Jose Mourinho played in signing Bernardo Silva for Real Madrid has been revealed by insider Fabrizio Romano.
Mourinho's return to Real has been in the works for weeks. He has seemed to be their top candidate during that time, and he was confirmed as their new boss on June 11.
Since that time, progress has been made towards the signing of Silva, who's a free agent after leaving Manchester City following nine years with the elite English outfit.
Insider Romano has revealed that move is now confirmed, stating the midfielder has approved his contract, which will span two years.
All the movement has been completed over the course of 36 hours, per the insider, with Mourinho a key factor in the signing, after he wanted him and drove advanced talks.
How Mourinho got Silva
Romano states that Mourinho indicated he wanted Silva on Tuesday night (June 9) as a priority, and Real therefore rushed through the process in order to beat other clubs to his signing.
Silva has previously been linked with Barcelona, as well as clubs in his native Portugal.
Romano refers to the move as "one of the quickest deals I remember for such a big club, such a big player."
He continued: "Because usually it takes time before a deal is done, and when you have a big name, a big player, a big agent, a big club, it takes some time before you reach an agreement.
"But in this case, Real Madrid have been incredibly fast. Why? Because they wanted to avoid any other club to enter the deal, to hijack, to change something. And so Real Madrid wanted to avoid any surprise.
"But also because Jose Mourinho, in that meeting Tuesday night, in Madrid, long meeting with the directors, Mourinho said Bernardo Silva is the right player for us, and Real Madrid decided to go all in to give Mourinho what he wanted.
"So now, Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid is a here we go. A super fast deal closed in 36 hours with Real Madrid offering Bernardo Silva a contract for the next two years, could include an option for one more season.
"Bernardo Silva accepted the financial conditions offered by Real Madrid. The salary is going to be less than what Bernardo Silva was earning at Manchester City.
"Bernardo for weeks, I would say for three, four weeks, has been in discussion, first with Barcelona, was offered to Barcelona as a possibility, and Barca were considering this.
"There were many reports of Bernardo to Barcelona, but that was not the case, then Atletico Madrid really tried hard till the very end to sign Bernardo Silva.
"Atletico were offering more than Barcelona, and trying their best to sign Bernardo, but then he decided to go to Real Madrid."
