Benfica have competition on signing of Otamendi

Benfica are keen to retain experienced captain Nicolas Otamendi for another season as his current deal with the Portuguese giants expires in June 2026. The 38-year-old Argentine centre-back has been a rock at the heart of defence since arriving from Manchester City in 2020, captaining the side and delivering consistent performances in Portuguese League and European competitions.

Club officials value his leadership and professionalism, with reports indicating Benfica are preparing an offer to extend his contract by one more year. Otamendi remains a key figure in Jose Mourinho’s plans, bringing stability to a squad aiming for domestic and continental success.

However, interest from his homeland has resurfaced. River Plate are monitoring the situation closely, viewing the veteran as a potential free-agent reinforcement. The Buenos Aires club see Otamendi’s quality and experience as ideal for strengthening their backline, especially with his well-known affection for the Millonarios. Otamendi has kept his options open, stating he will decide after the current campaign and the 2026 World Cup. 

While loyal to Benfica, the pull of a return to his homeland of Argentina adds intrigue to Otamendi and his family. For now, the Eagles are pushing hard to keep their captain but will want to remain within budget on any new contract. 

Benfica hit by UEFA punishment over fans behaviour

UEFA has handed out their punishment to Benfica for their fans behaviour during their Champions League clash against Real Madrid in the first leg of their playoff contest at the Estadio da Luz.

Benfica had been sanctioned by UEFA with financial penalties and a suspended partial stadium closure. The incidents arose towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior who was targeted by the clubs fans with racist and/or discriminatory behaviour.

UEFA has ordered Benfica to close 500 seats in sectors 10 and 11 for their next home European fixture but this closure is suspended for a probationary period of one year. 

The club has also been fined a total of €73,000 which include fines for the fans behaviour, that included discriminatory incidents, laser pointing and throwing objects onto the field.Benfica assistant coach Luis Machado has also been suspended by UEFA for one fixture due to his actions during the highly emotional contest. 

Benfica was also quick in launching their own internal investigation after the incident and identifying the individuals responsible for the abuse. The club suspended five club members and revoked their Red Pass season tickets. 

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.