Pizzi return to Benfica to be short lived

Long time Benfica midfielder Pizzi is set to open training with Benfica in Seixal as players begin to arrive at camp for medicals this weekend but his stay at the club looks to be short lived as the veteran 32 year old is not in the plans of incoming manager Roger Schmidt and is already being linked with a move to Greek champions Olympiacos this season.

Pizzi spent the second half of last season in Turkey with Basaksehir after falling out of favour at the club but he has appeared in 327 games for the Lisbon side across all competitions, scoring 94 goals while setting up an additional 95. Pizzi remains under contract with Benfica until the summer of 2023 were his remarkable career at the club will come to an end.

Benfica set to open camp on the weekend

Benfica are ready to get their preparations for the 2022/23 season under way this upcoming weekend as the technical team arrives tomorrow while players will start to arrive on the weekend for their medicals and physical tests. Benfica will train for about two weeks before kicking off their pre-season with a game against Reading on July 9.

Benfica will then have additional friendlies against Nice (July 15), Fulham (July 17), Athletic Bilbao (July 22) and Newcastle (July 26). Benfica's third qualifying round opponent in the Champions League will be known when UEFA complete their draw on July 18, dates of the two leg encounter will be released at the time of the draw.

Benfica to continue moving out players

Benfica continue their overhaul of their club as they prepare for the 2022/23 season under new manager Roger Schmidt and yesterday saw the arrival of David Neres from Shakhtar Donetsk and the departure of Everton to Flamengo. The club is far from done with their moves and the next few weeks are critical and should see more arrivals and departures for a club that has failed to win a trophy over their past two seasons.

Benfica players, Julian Weigl, Goncalo Ramos, Alex Grimaldo, Vlachodimos, Haris Seferovic, Adel Taarabt and Rafa Silva's names have all come up in recent weeks with moves away from the club if the price is right. Benfica are also not done their own shopping and continue on the lookout to add a few key pieces to the roster with the names Ricardo Horta, Enzo Fernandez and Ugurcan Cakir linked to the club.