Benfica are set to face Braga in the Taca de Portugal's quarter-final stage on Thursday as they look to advance in the competition and exact revenge on the only club that has defeated the Eagles under the guidance of Roger Schmidt this season. Benfica will visit Braga once again after suffering a 3-0 defeat in league play in their final game of the 2022 calendar year. A Benfica victory would see them move on and face the winner of Casa Pia or Nacional in the semi-finals.
Benfica already have their eyes on another Argentinian midfielder in the summer according to reports out of Portugal to replace recently departed midfielder Enzo Fernandez who joined Chelsea on deadline day for a Premier League record breaking fee of €121M. The 21 year old Santiago Hezze who applies his trade with Huracan and appeared in 37 games across all competitions last season is that player and the Lisbon side seeks to make their move when the summer transfer window opens. Hezze is a product of the Huracan youth system who made his breakthrough with the main club during the 2020 season and is now a regular with the squad.
Enzo Fernandez's stay at Benfica could not have been shorter as the Argentinian midfielder departs Lisbon for London to join Chelsea after just arriving in the summer from River Plate in what amounts to a record breaking Premier League fee paid by the English side for the 22 year old. Benfica will receive €121M plus interest on Chelsea's five installments to come, while receiving €45M up front to close the deal now.
Enzo Fernandez was far from a house hold name in most parts of the world until appearing at Benfica where he caught the eye of some of Europe's giants with his play. Enzo almost did not arrive at the club until this transfer window after Benfica and River Plate came to an agreement that he would remain in Argentina until River were eliminated from the Copa Libertadores, this luckily happened in early July in the round of 16.
Fernandez leaves Benfica after appearing in 29 games across all competitions, scoring four goals while setting up an additional seven, Benfica acquired Enzo in the summer for €10M with €8M in incentives in which €4M has already been paid to River Plate. Enzo was a key piece of Argentina's World Cup 2022 winning squad and was named the Young Player of the tournament increasing his value around the globe.
Fernandez's former club River Plate are entitled to 25% of the sale price and while Benfica have not replaced the out going midfielder they will be allowed to place bags of cash all around the field for the remainder of the season.
