Benfica ready to chase Utrecht left back El Karouani

Benfica and rivals FC Porto are said to have reached out to Utrecht about the availability of Moroccan left back Souffian El Karouani, according to reports out of Spain and has caught the attention of many squads with his fine first half of the season performance in the Netherlands.

El Karouani currently leads the Eredivisie with eight assists and has provided thirteen helpers across all competitions while chipping in three goals in over 2,000 minutes of action. El Karouani who was born in the Netherlands decided to join Morocco's national program debuting with the African side in 2021.

The 25 year old joined Utrecht in the summer of 2023 from NEC Nijmegen on a free transfer and with his current contract set to expire in the summer of 2026. Utrecht are hoping to cash during the winter window with a club that wants the player this season before he walks away for free.

With attack is El Karouani's hallmark, he does provide solid defensive coverage and ranks highly in duels won in the Eredivisie. This is the type of player that Benfica bench boss Mourinho covets and will be pushing the club's hierarchy to make the move.

 

Benfica get first Champions League win of the season

It took five games into the League Phase of the Champions League but Benfica finally got their first win of the competition, when they traveled to the Netherlands and defeated fellow cellar dweller Ajax 2-0.

The win provides the club with a sliver of hope of moving into the playoffs of the competition but with Napoli, Juventus and Real Madrid remaining on their schedule, the club will be in tough to advance again into the knockout rounds.

Benfica got a first half goal from Samuel Dahl, the club's first goal since the first half of their opening game and an injury time goal from Leandro Barreiro in the second half to seal the victory for the Lisbon side.

Jose Mourinho earned his first competitive victory in the competition not including qualifiers since he was on the sideline of Manchester United in December of 2017. 

Benfica will next host Napoli at the Luz on December 10. 

Benfica's Mourinho meltdowns continue after Taca victory

Benfica manager Jose Mourinho expressed strong frustration with his club after their 2-0 victory over third division side Atletico in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal.

Mourinho was particularly upset with his clubs first half performance as they went into the half in a scoreless draw, stating that the club was not mentally present on the field and displayed an unacceptable attitude and lack of professionalism.

The club manager made four substitutions at the half but wish he was able to sub nine of his players off if it was possible. Instead he yanked out Franjo Ivanovic, Enzo Barrenenchea, Tomas Araujo and Joao Rego, replacing them with Ricardo Rios, Leandro Barreiro, Samuel Dahl and Andreas Schjelderup.

The changes seemed to spark the club who scored a pair of goals in the middle of the half with Ricardo Rios getting his head on a Fredrik Aursnes corner and Vangelis Pavlidis scoring from the penalty spot.

These type of lackluster performances do not bode well with the club looking for their first Champions League points of the season as they travel to Amsterdam to take on Ajax in a battle of cellar dwellers on Tuesday.

Mourinho will be hoping for a better overall performance from the club going forward with a couple of important Champions League games coming up and a Lisbon derby against Sporting sandwiched between the two. 

 

Benfica's winter transfer ambitions looks to include targeting another striker

As the winter transfer window approaches in January, Benfica is reportedly looking to circle back to Union Saint-Gilloise's prolific striker Promise David. The club was said to have some interest in David during the summer window but decided to acquire teammate Franjo Ivanovic, in a move that has not panned out for the club.

The 24 year old Canadian striker joined Saint-Gilloise in the summer of 2024 from Estonia side Kalju for a rock bottom price of €600K and is signed with the Belgian club until the summer of 2029. David has appeared in 59 games for Saint-Gilloise across all competitions since joining the club, scoring 31 goals while providing five helpers.

David represents a dynamic addition to Benfica's attack with his speed, aerial ability and clinical finishing. Sources indicate that Benfica would need to splash a potential €15-20 million bid to get Saint-Gilloise's to the negotiating table. A move for David would bolster the club's number nine position and provide competition for current starter Vangelis Pavlidis.

This move would likely coincide with a loan out for summer signing Franjo Ivanovic. The 22 year old Croatian, acquired from Saint-Gilloise for €22.8 million in the summer, has struggled for form and minutes under Jose Mourinho, scoring just four goals in limited appearances. A loan for regular playing time would open up a roster spot while freeing up wages.

Benfica fans would hope this swap would reinvigorate their title challenge in the Portuguese League, where they trail current league leaders FC Porto by six points, eleven games into the seasons.

Benfica look to bring back Rafa Silva from Besiktas

Benfica is reportedly plotting a dramatic January 2026 return for former star Rafa Silva, who departed the club on a free transfer in summer 2024 after eight trophy-laden years. The 32-year-old Portuguese forward, known for his pace and versatility, joined Turkish giants Besiktas but has since expressed a desire to leave Turkey, sparking a contract dispute.

Besiktas has threatened FIFA action to enforce his stay, but unusual clauses in his deal may allow termination, paving the way for a Benfica reunion. Benfica looks at Rafa as their top winter target, preparing a 1 and a half year contract offer worth anywhere  €2M to €3M annually if he severs ties with Besiktas.

The approach aligns with Benfica's strategy under Jose Mourinho, who sees Rafa fitting easily into the current squad and the possible of the club not paying a transfer fee makes the move all that more intriguing.

At Besiktas, Rafa is earning €6M per season a lucrative contract that also includes as signing bonus of €10M spread out over the contract which would expire in the summer of 2027.

Benfica will have some competition from Saudi League clubs who are also monitoring the situation at Besiktas but are hoping that Rafa's emotional ties to the club will help lean him to a Portugal return. Everything hinges on what will transpire between Rafa and Besiktas, who are said to be open to receiving €10M for Rafa to make it all go away. 

Mourinho hands Benfica a list of what he wants during winter transfer window

As Benfica navigates a competitive Portuguese League season under Jose Mourinho, the Special One has made it clear that the club must act decisively in the January transfer window to chase silverware. Appointed in September, Mourinho has stabilized the team but highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly in attack and defense. 

With Benfica sitting third in the league, he believes that these targeted moves could propel them to the Portuguese League title. Mourinho has pinpointed five key positions for reinforcement, both right and left wing, the midfield, left-back, and striker. He cited productivity issues in the attacking line and a lack of depth as critical concerns for him.

His preferred first target is Real Madrid's left back Ferland Mendy, who would offer experience and stability amid uncertainties in that role. Benfica is ready to bid €10 million for the Frenchman, who has been sidelined at Madrid.

Speculation also links Mourinho with reunions with some of his former players that includes striker Karim Benzema from Al-Ittihad and midfielder Nemanja Matic who is currently applying his trade in Italy with Sassuolo.

Mourinho's wish list will mean squad trimming for some current players, but no names have been mentioned but one can expect the club will need to fund his buys with player sales during the January window. The winter window will represent a pivotal moment for Benfica as fans await action while the man known as the Special One demands it.

Rui Costa re-elected as Benfica President

In a thrilling election that went down to a run off, Rui Costa has been re-elected as Benfica President and will be in charge of the club for the next four years, defeating challenger Joao Noronha Lopes who made a strong case to dethrone the incumbent President.

The former Portuguese football legend, who first took the helm in 2021, gained 65.89% of the votes, showcasing strong support from the club's passionate fanbase. Benfica supporters set an all-time record for voter turnout for a sports club with 93,081 votes cast yesterday a testament to the club's global following.

Rui Costa praised his opponent for a respectful campaign, emphasizing that it is now time for unity and promising more victories on and off the pitch for the club going forward. 

As Benfica faces competitive challenges in the Portuguese League and in Europe, Costa hopes that his leadership continuity will stabilize the club. Fans hope that this cements the club's direction going forward and are optimistic of commencing a new era of glory. 

Benfica's Champions League woes deepen with another heartbreaking loss

Benfica fans are left reeling after yet another Champions League disappointment, falling 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen at the Estadio da Luz on a Patrik Schick second-half strike that proved decisive, condemning the Eagles to their fourth consecutive defeat in the league phase and leaving them languishing at the bottom of the standings with zero points.

The match was a tale of frustration for Benfica, who dominated possession and created numerous opportunities but failed to convert yet again, a telling tale for a club that has failed to score since the 16 minute mark of the first game. A goalless stretch of 344 minutes in the competition and counting.

These misses epitomized Benfica's inefficiency in front of goal, with expected goals of 1.42 compared to Leverkusen's 0.74, this stat suggests that they deserved at least a draw in this match. Manager Jose Mourinho must address this European slump quickly, or Benfica's campaign risks ending in utter embarrassment.

The club's manager said post game that he was happy with his club's performance but frustrated with the result. Benfica now sit 35th in the competition with the same record as 36th placed Ajax and remain out of the basement on goal differential. Oddly enough these two clubs will face off in their next league game in Amsterdam at the end of the month.

 

Benfica in must win game as they get set to host Leverkusen

As the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League season unfolds, Benfica finds itself in a precarious position. After suffering three consecutive defeats in the league phase, the Portuguese giants are teetering on the brink of an early exit from the competition.

A string of losses has exposed defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of clinical finishing, leaving Benfica fans anxious and demanding a turnaround. This week, Benfica hosts Bayer Leverkusen in a pivotal home fixture with both clubs looking for their first win in the competition but Leverkusen has managed two draws in their three games.

Benfica is hoping that their home fortress could prove decisive in boasting a raucous atmosphere that has toppled many elites in the past. A victory is non-negotiable for Jose Mourinho's side to revive their campaign and climb the standings.

Key players like Vangelis Pavlidis, Dodi Lukebakio and Richard Rios must step up in this contest. Will Benfica rise from the ashes, or deepen their crisis? The stage is set for drama in Lisbon this Wednesday night.