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“Expensive Free Transfer”
Portugal’s Bernardo Silva’s move to Real Madrid caused a stir in football circles after transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal was completed in what was described as a major blow in the transfer market, with the player a top target for Atletico and Barcelona also making it one of their priorities, strengthening Hansi’s status as a front-runner.
According to the information published by the Spanish “El Confidencial”, Silva’s joining of the Royal Club was not free, as it seemed, but there were huge sums that exceeded the limits of traditional contracts.
The player received a signing bonus estimated to be around €10 million net, equivalent to €20 million in total, in addition to a similar amount from his agent Jorge Mendes, while he will receive around €10 million in net annual wages, bringing the total deal to around €60 million if the contract is extended for an additional year.
The paper says the deal will not be officially announced for tax reasons until next July as Real Madrid seek to ensure Silva’s stay in Spain does not exceed 183 days during 2026, allowing him to benefit from a lower tax rate of 24 per cent instead of 45 per cent. This factor was reportedly the deciding factor in delaying the announcement, even though the agreement was finalized weeks ago.
The same sources also explain that Barcelona and Atlético have pulled out of the player’s contract due to the race’s high fees and potential tax risks, while Real Madrid decided to press ahead with the deal using the same formula they recently adopted to include defender Ibrahima Konate in what was described as an “expensive free transfer” that combines huge bonuses and high wages.
With the move, Real Madrid continue to bolster their ranks with high-caliber names under Florentino Perez and under the technical control of Jose Mourinho, amid expectations that Silva will be one of the mainstays of the team in the next round.
