Bernardo Silva: The solution Real Madrid are looking for

Debate is growing within Real Madrid day by day about how to restore the team's ability to control matches and create play. With this discussion, attention is increasingly turning towards Bernardo Silva, seen as one of the possible solutions to address the crisis of possession and organization in midfield.

Real Madrid have not signed Bernardo Silva as a traditional playmaker, but current circumstances may make him the closest player in the squad to that role, especially after what he showed during the closing minutes of the Madrid derby against Atlético.

Despite Bernardo Silva only playing for 15 minutes, it was one of Real Madrid's best periods in the match, as the team regained some balance and began to threaten Atlético's goal, even with a numerical disadvantage.

During these minutes, Real Madrid succeeded in retaining possession and imposing some pressure on Atlético, while Bernardo Silva was at the heart of this improvement, providing the midfield with greater calm, organization, and the ability to control the tempo of the game.

The player finished the minutes with a passing success rate of 95% and 80% for passes directed to the final third. He also delivered 3 crosses and created 2 chances for his teammates, which are impressive numbers considering his limited participation.

His most significant impact came with the only goal for Real Madrid, as he executed a precise free-kick that reached Antonio Rüdiger, who rose to score a powerful header, making that assist Bernardo Silva's first direct contribution in creating a goal while wearing the Real Madrid shirt.

Despite not scoring any goals so far, his participation numbers reveal that he has not been given a consistent opportunity to showcase his abilities, as he has reached 282 minutes, placing him 13th among Real Madrid players in terms of minutes played, behind Yan Diomande, who has played 292 minutes, and ahead of Eduardo Camavinga, who has participated for 240 minutes.

Bernardo Silva's importance is set to increase as he joins Portugal's senior squad under coach Jorge Jesus, following the end of Roberto Martínez's era. Portugal is expected to face Wales at home, Norway away, Denmark away, and then Norway again at home.

Bernardo Silva's start at Real Madrid has been relatively better, featuring as a starter in the first two matches against RCD Espanyol Barcelona and Real Sociedad. However, since then, he has only started one additional match, which was against Rayo Vallecano, where he played for 69 minutes.

Among those appearances, he received 13 minutes against Málaga, 26 minutes against Real Betis, and then 15 minutes in the Madrid Derby, reflecting his reduced presence in the starting lineup in recent weeks.

The issue is that his regular participation could mean sacrificing Aurélien Tchouaméni or Federico Valverde, both of whom are highly trusted by the coaching staff, and they are seen as key pillars of the team.

However, what happened in the derby may reopen the discussion, especially since Real Madrid appeared more organized and dangerous when Bernardo Silva took greater responsibility for moving the ball and linking the lines.

As Real Madrid struggles to impose its style and control the pace of matches, calls for Bernardo Silva to take on a bigger role are growing stronger.