Benfica are in talks with Brazilian club Sao Paulo about the acquisition of 18 year old central defender Morato. Benfica have offered Sao Paulo €18M for what some consider to be one of the more promising youngsters on the club. Sao Paulo has a €50M buy out clause on Morato and have already made it public that they have no intentions of selling the player for anything less. Morato arrived in Sao Paulo in 2016 from Portuguesa but has yet to make an appearance for Sao Paulo's main squad. The two clubs remain in negotiations with Benfica hoping to acquire the player before the transfer window closes.
Benfica have released their squad for
their upcoming home game today against FC Porto in the Classico on August 24 at 7:00pm
WEST. They will select 18 players from the list below at game time to
dress.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Nuno Tavares, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Alex Grimaldo, Jardel, Andre Almeida
Midfielders- Florentino, Samaris, Pizzi, Rafa Silva, Caio Lucas, Taarabt, Chiquinho
Forwards- Seferovic, Raul de Tomas, Jota, Carlos Vinicius
Nuno Tavares will retain his right back spot for this weekends upcoming "O Classico" against FC Porto. The 19 year old Tavares who has appeared in Benfica's first two league games and the season opening Super Cup in place of an injured Andre Almeida has not looked out of place even though he normally plays on the left side of the field. Tavares has contributed a goal and two assists in his first three appearances with the squad while adding an impressive player rating of 7.92 in the first two league games of the season according to whoscored.com. Almeida is set to return from a nagging shinbone injury but manager Bruno Lage has decided to go with an in form Tavares in such a crucial encounter against their main rivals for the league crown this season.
