Fernando Santos, who managed Portugal's national team, has described Bernardo Silva as a phenomenon in every sense, insisting that Real Madrid supporters will quickly fall in love with the Portuguese midfielder's ability and tactical intelligence.

Santos, who worked closely with Bernardo at international level, was effusive in his praise of the player following his high-profile move to the Spanish capital this summer.

A comparison with a Madrid legend

Although Santos is typically reluctant to draw direct comparisons between players, he acknowledged that Bernardo shares certain stylistic traits with Real Madrid icon Luka Modrić — specifically in terms of technical quality and relentless work rate.

"Silva has immense quality and sees the game like very few players do. He's one of the best players I've worked with in my career. Real Madrid has signed a phenomenon in every sense," Santos said.

"He's an extremely strong player technically and extraordinary tactically. He understands the game very well and can perfectly read every situation. He always knows what to do with the ball and how to position himself when he doesn't have it."

Versatility and peak years ahead

Santos also highlighted Bernardo's versatility, having deployed him as both an attacking midfielder and a winger with consistent success across all positions.

"I used him as an attacking midfielder or a winger, and his performance has been excellent in every position. He still has many great years ahead at the peak of his career. For me, he's still one of the best in the world. Real Madrid made the right move signing him and he's going to contribute a lot to the team," Santos added.

Bernardo departed Manchester City this summer after a remarkable spell in England that yielded six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. He now links up with José Mourinho's Real Madrid side, where Santos believes he will thrive.