Benfica are in talks with free agent and former Benfica center back Ezequiel Garay about a return back to the Lisbon club for next season. With the likely sale of center back Ruben Dias during the off season and with Jardel looking set to call it a career after this current season, Benfica are looking to add a veteran presence within the squad and are already familiar with the 33 year old center back. Garay was a member of Benfica for three seasons from the summer of 2011 until the summer of 2014, appearing in 136 games for the club across all competitions and was a key member of Benfica's 2013/14 league champion squad as well as a two time Europa League finalist. Garay has spent time with Zenit and Valencia since his departure and his veteran presence would be a key addition to the clubs new manager whoever that may be.
Benfica are set to receive an additional €1.5M from Spanish side Espanyol from clauses that were added as part of the sale of Raul de Tomas by the Lisbon side in January. De Tomas has appeared in more then ten total games and scored five times since arriving, clinching Benfica the bonus money on top of the €20M that was paid to acquire the 25 year old striker. Benfica will also receive as part of the original deal an additional 20% on any future sale by Espanyol, which could actually come very soon with the Catalan club heading to the second division next season after being relegated. Espanyol are also set to return Facundo Ferreyra back to Benfica at the end of the season with the strikers 18 month loan spell coming to an end.
Benfica travels north to take on Famalicao in Week 31 action as they look to build on last weeks impressive win over Boavista and continue the chase for top spot in Portugal as the season winds down. Nelson Verissimo will continue to manage the squad until seasons end on an intern basis and he has announced his second squad selection. Benfica will take on Famalicao tomorrow at 9:30pm WEST and will dress
20 players from the list below.
Keepers- Vlachodimos, Mile Svilar, Ivan Zlobin
Defenders- Tomas Tavares, Jardel, Ruben Dias, Ferro, Nuno Tavares, Andre Almeida
Midfielders- Chiquinho, Pizzi, Franco Cervi, Rafa Silva, Samaris, Florentino, Julian Weigl, Zivkovic, Gabriel
Forwards- Carlos Vinicius, Jota, Dyego Sousa, Seferovic
