Benfica not giving up on retaining Rafa Silva

Benfica are not going to go down without a fight when it comes to Rafa Silva, who is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season. According to reports out of Portugal, Benfica are making one last gasp to retain Rafa beyond this season, even though they know they can not provide the annual salary rumoured to be offered by Qatari club Al-Sadd.

Rafa is said to not only be on the radar of Al-Sadd, but Lazio, AC Milan and Manchester United have also been linked with the 30 year old attacker. Benfica manager Roger Schmidt is pushing hard to keep Rafa with Benfica and has President Rui Costa looking for creative ways to find a salary structure that can work to the players liking.

Rafa has been at Benfica since the summer of 2016 and has appeared in his 300th game for the club over the past month. Benfica knows that they are in tough to retain Rafa, but they are looking at a salary structure mixed with bonuses that can appease the player and have him continue to represent the club after the season.

Benfica blow chance to move on in Taca da Liga

Benfica failed once again to capture the Taca da Liga Cup after not being able to get past Estoril in yesterday's semi-final encounter. Benfica fell behind in the first half but equalized early in the second, but could not find the winner before being taken to penalties and losing 5-4 to Estoril after a 1-1 regulation draw.

Estoril now advances to face Braga on Saturday, who knocked out Sporting in the other semi-final match, turning this weekend's final into an unexpected affair. Benfica missed a series of chances during the game that could have seen the club move into the final but were unable to capitalize and they will join the host of clubs set to watch the Final on their sofas.

Benfica look to recapture Taca da Liga glory

In a competition that Benfica used to have a strangle hold on from its inception, the Lisbon club has now gone almost eight years since capturing this trophy, making the finals only once during this time frame.

Benfica captured the Taca da Liga seven of the first nine years of the competition's existence before going on their current dry spell, they hope to change that this week as the club enters the Final Four stage and gets set to face Estoril on Wednesday while city rivals Sporting take on Braga in the other semi-final game.

The winners of the semi-final games will play one another on Saturday, January 27th, in Leiria. Benfica go into the competition on a thirteen game unbeaten run across all competitions.

Benfica announce arrival of winger Benjamin Rollheiser

Benfica announced earlier today the arrival of winger Benjamin Rollheiser from Argentinian club Estudiantes. Rollheiser arrives on loan with a mandatory option to make the deal permanent at the conclusion of the season for €9.5M, which will give Benfica 90% of the players pass, while Estudiantes will retain 10% to cash in on a future sale.

The 23 year old arrived at the Lisbon club earlier than expected, but with the departures of Goncalo Guedes to Villarreal and Chiquinho to Olympiacos, Benfica made the move to bring the player over now instead of waiting until the summer. Rollheiser is a versatile winger who can also play in an attacking midfield role and as a secondary striker.

Benfica and Hoffenheim agree loan move for Juracek

Benfica and Hoffenheim have agreed to terms in principle for the loan move of left back David Juracek to the German side for the remainder of the season, with an option to make the move permanent for €12M.

The 23 year old Czech only arrived at Benfica in the summer with the hopes of replacing departing long time left back Alex Grimaldo but has not panned out and with Benfica's recent acquisition of left back Alvaro Fernandez earlier this week, Benfica no longer requires his services.

Benfica paid Slavia Prague €14M when they acquired Juracek and the club is hoping to recover a big chunk of their payment with the buy on clause added to the loan. Juracek has played only 478 minutes for the club across all competitions and has not provided much in the way of offense.

Benfica make bunch of moves during window

Benfica were making a host of moves today that will see players come and go from the club over the next couple of weeks. 

Benfica announced the acquisition of left back Alvaro Fernandez from Man United on loan for the remainder of the season. Benfica will have a buy option at the end of the season of €6M or the move will become permanent if Fernandez starts half of the club's remaining games. Man United will retain a percentage of Fernandez's rights for a future sale and have also included a buyback option as part of the deal.

Benfica are also in talks with midfielder Gabriel and look set to rescind the player's contract, Gabriel spent the past season in Brazil on loan with Botafogo. Benfica made the sale of center back Joao Victor to Vasco da Gama official for €6M and is currently in talks with Estudiantes to bring in winger Benjamin Rollheiser before the window closes.

On a sadder note, the club looks set to part ways with forward Goncalo Guedes. The former Seixal academy product who is on loan with the club from Wolves, looks set to have his loan recalled and seems headed back to Spain to join Villarreal.

 

Benfica need to find themselves a replacement for Rafa Silva

Benfica is currently facing a significant challenge, as Rafa Silva, a key player in their squad, will become a free agent this summer. Unfortunately, contract talks between the club and the player have hit an impasse, leaving both parties far apart in negotiations. As such, it is imperative for Benfica to find a suitable replacement for Silva this summer.

Silva has been an integral part of Benfica's success over the years. His pace, skill on the ball, and ability to score crucial goals have made him a fan favorite. Losing such a talented player would undoubtedly be a blow to the team's prospects for future seasons.

Finding an adequate replacement for Silva will not be an easy task. Benfica must identify someone with similar attributes and abilities who can seamlessly integrate into their playing style. The new recruit must possess speed, technical prowess, and goal-scoring instincts to fill the void left by Silva's departure.

Benfica faces a challenging situation with Rafa Silva set to leave as a free agent this summer. The club must act swiftly and decisively to secure a suitable replacement who can contribute effectively on the pitch. By identifying players with similar qualities while considering financial limitations, Benfica can ensure continuity and maintain their competitive edge in domestic and international competitions.

Former Benfica manager Ericsson diagnosed with cancer

Sadly, earlier today, former Benfica manager Sven-Goran Ericsson revealed his cancer diagnosis to the world. The 75 year old announced that he has pancreatic cancer, which is inoperable and, in a best case scenario, has about one year to live. Ericsson is doing his best to not think about his illness and enjoy the time he has left on this earth.

Ericsson managed Benfica on two different occasions during his career, he spent his first stop at the club from the summer of 1982 to the summer of 1984 and the second from the summer of 1989 to the summer of 1992. Ericsson won three league titles, a Taca de Portugal and a Super Cup in his time at the club. 

Ericsson also led Benfica to the 1990 European Cup Final, now known as the Champions League and the 1983 UEFA Cup Final, now known as the Europa League, losing in the finals on both occasions. 

Ericsson had a phenomenal managerial career that took him around the club with stops at Manchester City, Leicester City, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina, IFK Goteborg and Shanghai SIPG among a handful of others, and managed national sides England, Mexico and the Ivory Coast.

Wishing that Ericsson finds peace during these trying times.

Benfica in advance talks with Mainz midfielder

Benfica are said to be in advanced talks with Mainz midfielder Leonardo Barreiro according, to reports out of Germany. Who's contract will end at the conclusion of the season and he is currently free to sign with any club.

The 24 year old Luxembourg international has been with the German club since joining their youth side in the summer of 2016. He has gone on to star with the main squad, appearing in 134 games across all competitions, scoring nine goals while providing eleven helpers.

Benfica are hoping to land the box to box midfielder as a potential replacement for their own free agent midfielder, in Chiquinho, who is also currently free to sign with any club, although the players differ in style.

Benfica have agreement for Rollheiser summer move

Benfica and Estudiantes came to an agreement earlier today about winger Benjamin Rollheiser. The 23 year old will not join Benfica right away and will remain with his Argentinian club until the summer, according to press reports from the South American country.

Benfica is set to pay Estudiantes €9M for 90% of Rollheiser's pass, with the Argentinian club retaining 10% for a future sale of the player. The signing of Rollheiser could also signal the end of Angel di Maria's return to the club, as the 35 year old's contract is up in the summer.

Benfica land Santos striker Marcos Leonardo

Benfica wasted no time in making a move once the winter transfer window opened, signing striker Marcos Leonardo from Santos. As the club looks to solve its scoring woes from the striker position this season, Benfica paid €18M for Leonardo's services and signed the striker for five seasons with a buy out clause of €150M.

Santos will also be entitled to 10% of the future sale of the 20 year old by Benfica. Leonardo has scored 54 goals while at Santos, with 42 of those goals coming in the past two seasons. Benfica will now look to move one of their three strikers to make room for Leonardo, with the likely candidate being summer signing Arthur Cabral, who has struggled since joining the club.

French club interested in left back Jurasek

Benfica are said to be shopping left back David Jurasek for a potential loan move this winter to French side Marseille who is said to be interested in stepping to the plate to take a swing on the 23 year old Czech footballer.

Benfica acquired Jurasek this past summer from Slavia Prague in hopes he could fill the boots of departing left back Alex Grimaldo, but Jurasek has not been able to get his game to the level expected by the club and is now is being shopped around as Benfica turn their attention to Manchester United left back Alvaro Fernandez, who is currently on loan at Granada.

Jurasek has appeared in just 12 games since arriving at Benfica for a total of 480 minutes and has provided little in the club's attack, while Grimaldo is thriving at Leverkusen, scoring nine goals while providing seven helpers.

 

Benfica make informal contact with Santos striker

Benfica have reached out to 20 year old Santos striker Marcos Leonardo according to reports out of Brazil's Globo Esporte. Santos was recently relegated from the top division in Brazil and will be heading to Serie B for the first time in their history and should see an exodus of its top players over the winter window.

Leonardo's player rights belong to both Santos and Sao Paulo and it is said that the club is looking for between €15M to €20M for the players services. Leonardo scored 21 goals in 2023 across 49 games while providing four helpers. Benfica would need to move out one of its strikers if it were to make this move with Arthur Cabral the likely candidate.

Real Madrid, Arsenal and Newcastle are said to have also inquired about the player.

Rafa Silva now free to sign with any club

When the clock struck midnight, it officially made Rafa Silva a free agent able to negotiate a new contract with any club, with his contract at Benfica coming to an end at the conclusion of the season.

Benfica and Rafa seem far apart on a new contract, as the forward's asking price is out of the range of what the club is open to paying. The 30 year old currently earns €2.5M per season at Benfica and the club seems to have accepted that they will part ways with the player when the season ends.

Rafa turned down an offer during the summer from Qatari side Al-Sadd, which would have paid him a reported €7.5M per season but many feel that the Middle East could be the forward's future destination as clubs there continue to splash high salaries on foreign arrivals.

Rafa has been with Benfica since arriving in the summer of 2016 from Braga and has appeared in 300 games across all competitions for the Lisbon side. Rafa in his time at the club, has scored 81 goals, while setting up an additional 72. Rafa's Instagram account also no longer references Benfica a sign of things to come?