Bernardo Silva has played down questions about his new club, Real Madrid, insisting his only focus is helping Portugal advance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Portugal’s Round of 32 meeting with Croatia on Thursday, the Real Madrid midfielder refused to entertain questions about his new club, emphasizing that the national team takes priority during the tournament.
“I’m not going to answer questions about Real Madrid; I’m in too important a position to focus on anything
else. I’m happy, but I’m focused on the national team. The next few weeks will be dedicated exclusively to the national team.”
Silva also addressed his role within the Portugal squad after playing the last couple matches of the tournament as a substitute. While acknowledging every player wants to be on the pitch, the 31-year-old stressed the importance of putting the team first.
“My role as a substitute? I understand the question, but it’s not very relevant. There are many of us, we all came for the same reason. We came with the ambition to play, the coach has a difficult job. I’ve also been through this in my career, of course I want to be part of the team and I think I can help. I’m ready to help in any way I can, whether it’s playing 5 minutes or being in the locker room.”
Portugal have faced criticism during parts of their World Cup campaign, but Silva said the squad remains confident despite the scrutiny.
“We’re used to ups and downs; it’s a sport that involves a lot of passion, even more so with the national team. I’ve been here for many years, so I’m quite used to it. It’s about avoiding ups and downs, about being as consistent as possible. It’s about understanding what went wrong. The World Cup is a tough competition for all the teams. There are things we need to improve. Criticism is part of the process. We’re all giving our best. We’re in a good position to continue. We’re fully confident that things will turn out well.”
The midfielder also dismissed any suggestion that tournament conditions should be used as an excuse, insisting both teams face the same circumstances.
“I don’t think it’s tough World Cup conditions, they’re the same for both teams. We have to adapt. It’s never an excuse, the pitches have been good, we have to do our job and focus on what we can control. It’s not very relevant. We have to prepare and do our job as best as we can.”
Asked about the coach’s selection decisions, Silva declined to offer an opinion, saying those choices belong solely to the manager.
“It’s not my place to talk about the coach’s decisions. That’s what we have a coach for, who has a very difficult job. Everyone comes here with the intention of playing and being part of the team. He’s the one who makes the decisions. When it’s not up to us, it’s up to us to give our best, create a good atmosphere, and be ready to respond when the opportunity arises.”
Finally, Silva reflected on the versatility that has defined much of his career, explaining that while he feels most comfortable in central areas, he is prepared to play wherever he is needed.
“My best position? That’s a difficult question because I’ve played in many different positions. My characteristics lean more towards one particular spot. It’s hard to answer; I’m better suited to playing in certain positions. If I tell you I’m a midfielder, as I played all season at City, I’d be contradicting my career. My coach plays me out of those positions. I’m ready. Of course, I’m better suited to central positions, but I’m here to help.”
Portugal take on Croatia on Thursday with a place in the Round of 16 at stake, as Roberto Martínez’s side looks to continue its World Cup campaign.
