On how the player fits alongside the trio of Kylian Mbappé, VinÃcius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, Santos said: “Great players know how to adapt to every situation and circumstance in a match. Bernardo is very good in this respect and will have no problem playing wherever he is asked. I am sure Mourinho has in mind the role he wants to assign him, and Bernardo will carry it out in the best possible way.”
Santos also expects the Portuguese to hold his own in a crowded Real Madrid attack. “He is used to competition and his quality will earn him a place in the starting line-up. I believe he is set to play a very important role, and that is precisely why Mourinho requested him. Perhaps he can play more out wide on the right wing and through the middle from time to time, but wherever they place him he will perform superbly thanks to his tactical intelligence and his reading of the game. Mourinho is a clever coach, highly accomplished in strategic concepts, and he will get the best out of him.”
Could he drop into a deeper role near the start of the build-up? Santos has no doubts. “Thanks to his understanding of the game and his high quality, he can do that without any problem. In fact, we saw briefly against Uzbekistan how he formed the central midfield pairing with Bruno Fernandes. Alongside a midfielder of a central nature, he can organise the team’s play perfectly, but in my opinion the closer he is to the opponent’s goal, the more you benefit from him.”
Defensive graft is no issue either, according to Santos. “He proved that during his time with Manchester City. He may look physically weak, but on the pitch he unleashes enormous energy and always puts his abilities at the service of the team. He never spares himself a single run, and he often intercepts the opponent’s passes thanks to the ease of his positioning on the pitch and his ability to anticipate the opponents’ play.”
