Pizzi set to depart Benfica for Turkey

Long time Benfica midfielder Pizzi is set to depart the club on loan for the remainder of the season and join Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir. The 32 year old was left off today's squad list for the clubs league game and is expected in Istanbul over the next few hours to complete the move to the 2019/20 Turkish Champions who currently sit in fifth spot in the league.

Pizzi has fallen out of favour this season starting two league games out of twenty the club has played thus far, having not been a first choice of former manager Jorge Jesus or current intern manager Nelson Verissimo. Pizzi has made 30 appearances for Benfica this season across all competitions, scoring twice while setting up four goals. He has played a total of 943 minutes which averages out to about 35 minutes per game.

Pizzi first joined Benfica in the summer of 2013 from Atletico Madrid for €14M and spent his first season on loan at Espanyol before sticking with the Lisbon club since that time. Pizzi has appeared in 360 games with Benfica across all competitions, scoring 94 goals while setting up an additional 96. Pizzi was named the league's most valuable player during the 2016/17 season and has captured ten trophies, including four league titles in his time with Benfica.