Napoli are back in on Benfica left back Alex Grimaldo based on reports coming out of Italian publication Calciomercato. Napoli who were linked with Grimaldo during the summer transfer window want to land Grimaldo as soon as the January transfer window opens but Benfica would not let the 24 year old leave the club for any less then €40M price tag. Benfica and Napoli's summer talks also included Portuguese left back Mario Rui coming the other way in any deal between the clubs for Grimaldo but Benfica would be more inclined to make that deal now with youngster Nuno Tavares waiting in the wings.
Benfica acquired Grimaldo from Barcelona during the winter transfer window of 2016 for what is now a bargain price of €2.1M. The Spaniard has appeared in 131 games for the club across all competitions scoring seven times while setting up twenty three goals. Benfica may also choose to hold onto Grimaldo until the summer transfer window where the likes of Barcelona and Juventus' could make a move for the player after also being linked to Benfica's left back. Grimaldo has been called by some as the next Jordi Alba and Benfica will do their best to maximize any return for their starting left back
Benfica set to face Portimonense at home in Week 9, in what is a rare midweek league game today. Benfica will look to add to their unbeaten five game run since suffering their home loss to FC Porto as both clubs battle a top the Portuguese League. The game
will take place at 8:15pm WEST and 18 players from the list below will
dress for the game.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Ferro, Alex Grimaldo, Jardel, Tomas Tavares, Andre Almeida, Ruben Dias
Midfielders- Pizzi, Franco Cervi, Gedson Fernandes, Gabriel, Florentino, Taarabt, Samaris, Chiquinho
Forwards- Seferovic, Jota, Carlos Vinicius, Raul de Tomas
Benfica are looking at replacing the whole pitch at the Estadio da Luz after noticing during their O Classico encounter against FC Porto on August 24 that the stadium grass is not at the quality that it was the previous season. Benfica manager Bruno Lage confirmed today that the pitch will be replaced at some point in November and hopes the change will give the club better ball movement which was a key to the clubs success last season. Lage is also concerned that the poor pitch has played a part in the clubs player injuries this season with Rafa Silva the latest to be hurt on the clubs home grass. Rui Costa the clubs sporting director and general manager Tiago Pinto traveled to the Netherlands to find a solution on Monday, the pitch change will actually be the third for the club since the June.
