Benfica are making sure to keep all their options open with the transfer window set to close in less then two weeks and one of the positions they are desperate to shore up is the wing. Benfica thought that an agreement for Braga winger Ricardo Horta was complete but bickering about the disbursement of proceeds between Horta's right holders Braga and Malaga have stalled and could potentially derail the whole negotiation.
Which has Benfica already looking for alternatives to Horta and the club have recently been linked with Velez Sarsfield's 22 year old winger Luca Orellano who is left footed and can play on either wing. Orellano's contract with Sarsfield has a buy out clause of €8M and his acquisition would be a much cheaper option then the Horta deal which is said to be for €16M + players. The next few days should be interesting for the club as they look to strengthen the squad for the first half of the season.
Benfica's U20 squad will travel to Uruguay to face off against Penarol in the first inaugural Intercontinental Cup for the youth league Champions of both UEFA and CONMEBOL. Benfica and Penarol will play their encounter in Montevideo's Estadio Centenario on August 21st in a ninety minute affair that would go to penalties if the game is level after regulation time.
Benfica's 2022 UEFA Youth League Champions will be without striker Henrique Araujo who scored a hat trick in the clubs 6-0 final victory in April as he is now part of the main squad but winger Diego Moreira has been given the green light to join the U20 squad on their trip. Benfica will have a familiar squad that impressed in their victory over Salzburg.
Benfica's move for winger Ricardo Horta continues to stall due to a breakdown in negotiations between Braga and Malaga who both own a percentage of the players playing rights. Benfica though are not taking any chances and are looking to alternative options with the transfer window just weeks away from closing until January.
One name that has popped up over the past few days is Roma winger Justin Kluivert, who's main position is no different then Horta's but he would come with a much bigger annual salary, just shy of €4M per season. The 23 year old has spent the past two seasons on loan already with RB Leipzig and Nice and does not look to be in Roma manager Jose Mourinho's plans once again.
Kluivert the son of former Dutch international Patrick appeared in 31 games across all competitions for Nice last season, scoring six goals while setting up another six. Benfica would prefer to close the Horta move after already agreeing on a five year contract with the player but need to keep their options open in case the deal falls through and Kluivert is on the agenda.
