Benfica dominated best XI of 2018/19 season

The Portuguese League had their annual Gala Quinos de Ouro on September 2, 2019 for the 2018/19 season and announced the best XI of the league season. Benfica who were last seasons league champions dominated the best XI with six selections.

The Best XI for the 2018/19 season:

Keeper: Iker Casillas (FC Porto)

Defenders: Alex Grimaldo (Benfica) Ruben Dias (Benfica), Eder Militao (FC Porto), Alex Telles (FC Porto)

Midfielder: Pizzi (Benfica), Bruno Fernandes (Sporting), Danilo (FC Porto)

Forwards: Joao Felix (Benfica), Rafa Silva (Benfica), Seferovic (Benfica)

Benfica suffer another set back with Vinicius injury

Benfica have suffered another injury blow with recently acquired striker Carlos Vinicius going down with a muscle injury to his left thigh. The injury will sideline the Benfica striker for up to four weeks and he will miss Benfica's opening game of the Champions League. Bruno Lage already has regulars Gabriel, Chiquinho and Gedson out with injury and Vinicius adds another player in Lage's rotation to the list. Vinicius joined Benfica this summer from Napoli and has appeared in four league games, scoring once in 37 minutes of play.

Manchester United interested in Benfica pair

Manchester United scouts were recently spotted in Braga at Benfica's most recent league game and the English side are said to have had an eye on not one, but two of Benfica's youngsters. United's manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer is said to be intrigued with both Benfica defender Ruben Dias and defensive midfielder Florentino Luis. Solskjaer would like the players sooner then later and is keen on acquiring the pair when the winter transfer window opens in January. Dias and Florentino currently have buyout clauses of €88M and €120M between the two of them and after a summer that saw the club infused with cash from player sales Benfica would be less inclined to sell either player in January if their buy out clauses are not met by United. The youngsters are current main stays in Benfica's starting eleven and key members of the squad as they look to push for another league title.

Ruben Dias who is 22 years of age and Florentino who is 20 years of age both came through Benfica's much talked about Seixal academy, the academy has produced the likes of Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Guedes, Joao Felix and Renato Sanches to name a few players.  Benfica will one day line their pockets with cash when they are ready to sell each player but that time may not be in January 2020 much to the disappointment of the Manchester club. United and their deep pockets will more then likely need to hold off until next summer if they are interested in acquiring the youngsters from Benfica, as the club would be more open to discussing a move at that time. Benfica fans should enjoy watching Dias and Florentino this season as United are the first but not the last of Europe's elite that will be knocking on the door for each player come January.