Benfica need to get moving on Rafa Silva contract

Benfica will need to turn their focus on speedy winger Rafa Silva who's contract is set to expire at the end of the season. Rafa is said to be looking for a contract with an annual base salary of €5M per season which would double his current stipend but Benfica are said to have gone as high as €3.5M at this time.

President Rui Costa has until January to make a deal with Rafa before he is free to talk to any club and sign for free. The 30 year old has been with Benfica since arriving from Braga in the summer of 2016 and has appeared in 278 games for the club across all competitions. Rafa has scored 75 goals while providing 67 helpers in that time.

Rafa has captured six trophies while a member of Benfica with three of those being Portuguese League titles.

Benfica players set for International break

Benfica manager Roger Schmidt has given the club's players a five day break until Friday for those who will not be departing on International duty for their respective countries Benfica is currently carrying 26 players on their first team and thirteen of those players will be on duty with their home nations.

Benfica players set for International Duty:

Portugal: Antonio Silva

Portugal U21: Samuel Soares, Joao Neves, Tomas Araujo

Argentina - Nico Otamendi, Angel di Maria

Norway - Fredrik Aursnes

Croatia - Petar Musa

Turkey - Orkun Kokcu

Ukraine - Anatoliy Trubin 

Denmark - Alexander Bah

Brazil U23 - Morato

Japan U22- Leo Kokubo

Benfica find out Champions League group opponents

Benfica have learned their fate after their Champions League group draw that saw last seasons Portuguese League champions drawn with a famaliar for in Inter Milan and the two clubs are joined by Spanish side Real Sociedad and Austrian club RB Salzburg.

The group stage will kick off for Benfica on September 20 at home against RB Salzburg.

Benfica group schedule

Game 1 September 20 vs RB Salzburg

Game 2 October 3 at Inter Milan

Game 3 October 24 vs Real Sociedad

Game 4 November 8 at Real Sociedad

Game 5 November 29 vs Inter Milan

Game 6 December 12 at RB Salzburg