Could NEC Nijmegen midfielder be the answer for Benfica?

Benfica could look toward NEC Nijmegen’s rising star Kodai Sano as they look to bolster their midfield ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The 22-year-old Japanese international has exploded onto the scene in the Eredivisie, drawing Premier League and European interest after rejecting big-money bids in January. Sano joined NEC from J2 League side Fagiano Okayama in August 2023 for just €500,000
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The then 19-year-old had already shown promise in Japan, featuring regularly in the second tier with solid ball progression and defensive metrics. In his debut Eredivisie campaign (2023/24), he quickly adapted, logging key appearances and building toward his breakout 2025/26 season, where he has started 28 league matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists while averaging over 7.6 in player ratings. 

Sano could cost Benfica €15-18 million including add-ons, a reasonable fee for a young, high-upside talent with a contract until 2028. His biggest strengths lie in his dynamic box-to-box profile, elite dribbling and vision to break lines, strong passing range, ball interception and tireless defensive work rate.

Versatile enough for central or attacking midfield roles, the right-footed dynamo excels at turning defense into attack with sharp transitions and distance shooting.

If Benfica can secure Sano this summer, he’d add another piece of youthful energy and technical quality to Jose Mourinho’s project, potentially becoming a long-term star at the Estadio da Luz as Benfica look towards silverware in the 2026-27 season.

Benfica look to make UEFA Youth League Final Four again

Benfica will travel to Italy to take on Inter Milan today in the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Youth League at the KONAMI Football Centre as the club looks to make the Final Four of the competition once again.

Benfica currently hold the competition records for most final fours, most matches played at 70 and biggest win in the Finals, a 6-0 defeat of Red Bull Salzburg in 2022, when they lifted the trophy of the competition for the first time.

Benfica have reached three other Finals in the competition, losing in 2014, 2017 and 2020. The Portuguese club's ability to produce young talent at their academy that go on to shine at the senior level is legendary.

The club will not have it easy in a one leg knockout today but they go to Milan full of confidence as they look to make it five final fours in the history of the competition. Cross town rivals Sporting will take on Real Madrid in the other quarter-final today in hopes of getting two Portuguese clubs into the Final Four. 

 

Mourinho handed two match ban by Portuguese League

In a dramatic turn during last Sunday's Portuguese League blockbuster, Jose Mourinho received a red card in Benfica's intense 2-2 draw against FC Porto, his former club where he famously won the Champions League. 

The incident occurred in stoppage time after Benfica's late equalizer, when Mourinho left his technical area and was accused of kicking a ball toward Porto's substitutes' bench in celebration and was shown a red card.

Tensions escalated as Mourinho clashed with Porto assistant coach Lucho Gonzalez, whom he accused of repeatedly calling him a "traitor" in the tunnel. Mourinho defended his loyalty, questioning what he had "betrayed" after giving his all to Porto years ago.

The Portuguese Football Federation's disciplinary council has ruled, a one-match ban for the red card, plus an additional 11-day suspension, effecting another game for provoking the confrontation. This two-match ban means Mourinho will miss one more game after sitting out today's 2-1 come from behind win by Benfica over Arouca.