Real Madrid signed Bernardo Silva as a free agent back in the summer after his contract with Manchester City expired.
Los Blancos secured his signature, beating the likes of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid to it, and expectations were high about what he could add to the midfield.
However, it has taken some time for him to settle in, and Madrid's victory over Barca at the Camp Nou seems like a turning point for the Portuguese midfielder.
Bernardo Silva delivered his most convincing performance since arriving in the summer, justifying Jose Mourinho's determination to bring him to the Bernabeu .
According to Diario AS , Silva had long dreamed of representing Madrid, but his initial approach was rejected earlier this year.
Mourinho's return changed everything, with the manager personally pushing for his arrival despite interest from several other European clubs.
After deciding to leave Manchester City, Silva initially struggled to convince Madrid to pursue his signature.
Bernardo Silva is slowly coming into his own at Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
His agent, Jorge Mendes, subsequently explored alternative destinations, with Barcelona emerging as a serious possibility.
However, during a June meeting with Jose Angel Sanchez and Juni Calafat, Mourinho made his intentions clear.
"We need a player like Bernardo Silva. We have to secure his signing,"the Portuguese manager insisted.
Once Silva learned of Madrid's interest, he paused other negotiations and prioritised the move. He eventually joined on a free transfer, signing a contract until 2028.
Despite pushing for his signing, Mourinho deliberately managed Silva's introduction into the team.
He wanted the 32-year-old midfielder to regain his physical sharpness before assuming greater responsibilities.
That patience paid off against Barcelona, where Silva helped Madrid dictate the tempo and maintain composure against a much more technical midfield.
Will Bernardo be a started in the upcoming games? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
His contribution was particularly important because Madrid had originally identified Rodri as their preferred option to provide control in midfield.
While Silva is a different player from his former team-mate, he helped Madrid outplay a midfield featuring Rodri.
The Clasico also showed why Silva's experience matters for Madrid. There is no doubt that he will have an important role to play in the coming weeks .
Silva has now taken an important step towards establishing himself as a regular starter, and it remains to be seen how he fares in the upcoming games.
