Jorge Mendes Reveals How Clubs Nearly Overlooked Bernardo Silva and João Félix
Some of football’s biggest careers begin with a clear path to the top. Others depend on persistence, timing and someone willing to argue that a young player deserves a chance. Renowned agent Jorge Mendes says Bernardo Silva and João Félix both faced doubts early in their careers, despite later becoming internationally recognised talents.
Speaking at the “Leading the Game” forum, held as part of the Executive Master in Football Business Administration programme organised by Católica Porto Business School and the Portuguese League, Mendes recalled the resistance he encountered while trying to persuade clubs to back players who did not always fit conventional expectations.
His stories offer a glimpse into the uncertainty behind recruitment and player development. A youth prospect’s future can hinge not only on technical ability, but also on a club’s patience, its priorities and whether decision-makers are prepared to look beyond physical attributes or early statistics. In Mendes’s account, opportunities—not talent alone—often determine who reaches the highest level of football.
Bernardo Silva was told he would not make it
Mendes described Bernardo Silva as a player whose qualities were repeatedly underestimated. According to the agent, he was told on several occasions that Silva would never become an important player and might only manage a career in Portugal’s lower divisions.
“I was told several times: ‘Jorge, forget it, you have no chance,’” Mendes recalled, adding that some people believed Silva could perhaps play for a club such as Paços de Ferreira. The comments reflect how young players can be judged against narrow ideas of what a successful professional should look like.
Silva’s game was built around close control, intelligence and his ability to influence possession. Rather than relying on constant running or imposing physical presence, he could find space, retain the ball under pressure and connect attacks. Those attributes can be easy to miss when youth recruitment places greater emphasis on size, speed or immediate physical dominance.
Mendes said the challenges continued after Silva moved to Monaco. The club was not convinced it should keep him following his first season, leaving the agent to persuade the president to give the midfielder more time. That decision proved pivotal. Silva went on to establish himself at the French club before joining Manchester City, where his technical style suited a team built around control of the ball and positional movement.
With hindsight, the early doubts look striking. Silva became one of Portugal’s leading players and a key figure for City, earning recognition for his consistency, versatility and ability to perform in high-pressure matches. Mendes said it became clear that they were witnessing one of the most significant players in Portuguese football history.
João Félix’s move to Benfica began unexpectedly
Mendes also used João Félix as an example of how a future star may not initially be considered the standout prospect at his club. Félix was developing at Porto when Benfica showed interest in his brother and brought him to the Lisbon side. Mendes said the family situation helped shape what happened next.
With Félix remaining at Porto while his brother moved to Benfica, his father was understandably concerned about the separation. Mendes described Benfica’s signing of João as almost a courtesy connected to the circumstances surrounding his brother’s move.
That account contrasts with the attention Félix later attracted. His technical ability, creativity and attacking instincts helped him rise quickly through Benfica’s system and into the senior side. His performances made him one of European football’s most talked-about young forwards, illustrating how rapidly a player’s reputation can change once given a sustained opportunity at senior level.
Mendes said that many players whose transfers he has overseen were not necessarily the most prominent names at their clubs. He estimated that more than 80 per cent did not begin as their teams’ most celebrated prospects. The point is not that every overlooked player will become a star, but that early status can be a poor predictor of eventual potential.
Why academy pathways matter
The agent praised Barcelona’s approach to integrating youth players, noting that the club regularly promotes one, two or three players from its reserve setup. He pointed to the number of first-team footballers who have progressed through the academy as evidence of the value of a clear development pathway.
Such pathways can help clubs assess young players in a familiar environment rather than relying solely on external recruitment. They also give prospects a visible route forward: strong performances in the academy or reserve team can lead to training with the senior squad, competitive minutes and, eventually, a regular role.
For clubs, this approach requires patience and planning. Young players need more than a contract; they need coaching, appropriate competition and a realistic chance to prove themselves. A promising prospect can stall if the first team has no room for them or if a short run of poor form ends the club’s confidence.
Talent exists beyond the biggest leagues
Mendes warned that football loses potential when players are not given the opportunity to progress. He argued that talented individuals can be found in the second and third divisions, not only in elite academies or top-flight clubs. The challenge, he suggested, is often identifying and supporting that ability before it is widely recognised.
His remarks also raise questions about how clubs evaluate prospects. Physical development can vary considerably during adolescence, meaning a player who appears less powerful at 16 may mature later. Technical skill, decision-making, composure and adaptability may be just as important, even if they are harder to measure quickly.
For scouts and sporting directors, a balanced assessment can reduce the risk of overlooking players whose strengths do not match a standard profile. For smaller clubs, creating opportunities may also bring sporting and financial rewards: a player who develops through consistent minutes can strengthen the team or attract interest from larger organisations.
What Mendes’s stories mean for football’s next generation
The careers of Bernardo Silva and João Félix underline how unpredictable player development can be. Their journeys do not offer a simple prediction for which young prospects will succeed, but they do show why early labels should not always be treated as final verdicts. A player’s environment, role and access to meaningful minutes can shape their progress as much as raw ability.
Mendes’s central message is that talent is widespread, while opportunity is not. Clubs that combine careful scouting with patience may discover players others have dismissed. And for young footballers still waiting for a breakthrough, the examples of Silva and Félix serve as a reminder that doubt from others does not necessarily define what a career can become.
