Benfica and Sporting to battle for Algarve Cup

Benfica and Sporting are set to battle in a pre-season tournament taking place in the Algarve between July 14 to 18 at the Algarve Stadium near Faro. Benfica and Sporting will be joined in the competition by Boavista and Belgian side Gent. Benfica and Sporting will not actually meet in the four game tournament but will both play Boavista and Gent with the first place team awarded the Algarve Cup.

July 14 Sporting vs Gent

July 15 Sporting vs Boavista

July 16 Benfica vs Gent

July 18 Benfica vs Boavista

 

Benfica linked to Serbian International

According to Portuguese daily Record, Benfica have been linked to Marseille winger Nemanja Radonjic who spent part of last season on loan at German club Hertha Berlin. Marseille have set a price tag of €10M for the Serbian International as Benfica look for reinforcements with the recent departure of Pedrinho and the upcoming departure of Franco Cervi. Benfica have yet to make an official bid for Radonjic's services.

The 25 year old appeared in 27 games across all competitions for Marseille and Hertha Berlin last season, scoring three goals while also setting up three goals in 1,145 minutes of play. Radonjic joined Marseille in the summer of 2018 from Red Star Belgrade for €12M but with the pandemic crisis having hit many clubs hard financially, Benfica may still get Marseille to lower the asking price.

Tiago Dantas close to loan move to Belenenses SAD for season

Benfica youngster Tiago Dantas is on the verge of another loan move this summer but this time the 20 year old is keen to remain in Portugal as he searches for regular playing minutes which he lacked in his recent loan spell with Bayern Munich during the 2020/21 season. Dantas only appeared in two games with Bayern's main squad, totaling 69 minutes of action and was returned back to Benfica when German Champions decided not to trigger the €7.5M buy on clause at season end.

Belenenses SAD manager and former Benfica player Petit has made Dantas his main target this summer and although a deal for the central midfielder has not yet been finalized between the two clubs, there is an agreement in place that would see Dantas play the 2021/22 season at Belenenses SAD. Benfica manager Jorge Jesus has no plans to use Dantas this season and the only real stumbling block from Dantas' move to Belenenses SAD is if another Portuguese side come in with a more intriguing offer.