Benfica midfielder Franco Cervi remains with the Lisbon club after most of the major transfer windows closed Monday and reports coming out of Portugal and Argentina indicate that the 25 year old declined a move to his homeland and the chance to play for Boca Juniors. The reports also state that Cervi is close to moving to Mexico and joining an unnamed club. The Mexican league's transfer window remains open and with Cervi out of manager Bruno Lage's main roster it is a move the midfielder is open to accept. Cervi joined Benfica in the summer of 2016 from Rosario and has yet to appear for the club this season.
Benfica bounced back after their Classico loss to Porto and defeat Braga 4-0 on the road at Estadio Municipal. Benfica was awarded a penalty to open the scoring in the first half and Pizzi stepped up and converted to put the Eagles ahead at the 25 minute mark and that score remained until the half ended. Pizzi then scored his second of the game a couple of minutes into the second half to double the Benfica lead. Braga then extended Benfica's lead to three as Bruno Viana deflected a Seferovic cross into the box and into his own goal. Ricardo Esgaio followed Viana's lead deflecting a Jota pass into his goal also to increase the score to 4-0. Benfica would cruise the rest of the way on their way to victory. Pizzi's brace now has the midfielder at 5 league goals in his first four games, while Benfica's striker duo continue to struggle to get on the scoresheet. Benfica will next face Gil Vicente after the International break in two weeks time.
Benfica have loaned recently acquired striker Jhonder Cadiz to French side Dijon for the 2019/20 season. Benfica acquired Cadiz earlier this summer from Setubal for €3M, signing the player until the end of the 2024 season but Cadiz suffered an injury early in training camp and with the acquisitions of strikers Raul de Tomas and Carlos Vinicius, he became expandable. Dijon who currently play in Ligue 1 have an option to purchase the 24 year old Venezuelan but terms of the loan have yet to be disclosed. Cadiz appeared in 34 games for Setubal last season across all competitions. scoring 10 goals and setting up two others.
