Barcelona's deal for Bernardo Silva shifts as Mourinho joins Real Madrid

Bernardo Silva was close to joining Barcelona with advanced contract discussions ongoing before circumstances changed when Jose Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid. Silva had met with Barcelona representatives and began planning for life in Catalonia, willing to accept a pay cut. However, Barcelona hesitated, unsure of his fit in the squad, allowing Real Madrid to seize the opportunity and present a more attractive offer, positioning Silva as a critical target for their project.

• 8:00 AMYahoo Sports — Barcelona had an agreement in place with Real Madrid-bound veteran before Mourinho changed everything