Benfica turn to Greece for Rafa replacement?

Benfica look ready to cash in on winger Rafa Silva when the summer transfer window opens later this year with the 28 year old Portuguese International already heavily linked to potential suitors Wolverhampton and Newcastle in England. Benfica are said to have put a €50M price tag on Rafa who has scored 11 goals while providing 17 helpers across all competitions this season.

Benfica are already in the hunt for Rafa's replacement and have been linked with AEK Athens winger Levi Garcia. The Trinidad born 24 year old joined AEK Athens in the summer of 2020 from Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem and has appeared in 63 games for the Greek club across all competitions since his arrival, scoring ten goals while setting up eleven.

Rafa Silva will not be alone in his departure of the club with Benfica set for a flurry of high priced moves during the summer months after reporting a loss for the first half of the season of over €31M earlier this week. Benfica will be looking to cash in on some of their top players while reducing higher salaried players and replacing them with lower ones.

Benfica fans and club show their class in Yaremchuk support

Benfica fans gave Ukrainian striker Roman Yaremchuk a standing ovation when he entered today's 3-0 victory over Guimaraes in a rare sporting moment that was more then just about football bringing the 26 year old to tears as he acknowledged the fans support for his homeland who is currently at war with Russia after being attacked just a few days past.

Yaremchuk was also given the captain's arm band by Jan Vertonghen as he entered along with a hug in support of the striker who I am sure is dealing with sleepless nights worrying about loved ones back home. Many Benfica fans attending today's game wore Ukraine's blue and yellow colours along with signs in support of Ukraine in the on going conflict.

Yaremchuk made the news all over the world Wednesday when he removed his jersey after scoring the tying goal for Benfica in their Champions League draw, revealing a black t-shirt with the Ukrainian coat of arms that he was wearing underneath. Although Yaremchuk did receive a yellow card for his actions, he escaped any punishment by UEFA with his political display.

Benfica head to Amsterdam with hope

Benfica with a strong second half performance in their Champions League round of 16 encounter against Ajax yesterday has given their fans something to talk about, some may say even some hope going into their second leg encounter in Amsterdam after the 2-2 draw. Benfica's second half, had the favoured Dutch side on the ropes and they could have even won the game if a break or two had gone their way. This coming after a first half that saw the club for the most part, hanging on for dear life.

The club that emerged from the half came out with a purpose and surprised many fans, myself included with their fine play. Benfica will now need to duplicate that second half as they travel to Amsterdam to face the Dutch club on March 15 if they are to have any chance of advancing to the quarter-final stage and pocketing an additional €10.6M from UEFA for doing so. With the away goal rule abolished this season, Benfica has one less thing to be concerned about heading into the game that looks like a winner take all affair.