Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Benfica open Champions League with a win

Benfica Blog
Benfica kicked off their Champions League campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over visiting Maccabi Haifa, as the Eagles maintained their perfect start to the season under new manager Roger Schmidt winning their first ten competitive games. Benfica scored a pair of second half goals just four minutes apart in their victory with Rafa Silva and Alex Grimaldo finding the back of the net for the club.

Benfica will now travel to Italy to face Juventus next week in what many believe to be a battle for second spot in the group and a chance for a place in the competitions round of 16 next year. Juventus are coming off a 2-1 loss to group favourites PSG and will not be in a welcoming mode as they will look to end Benfica's current run. Benfica and Juventus are set to battle at the Allianz stadium on September 14.

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Ins and Outs of what Benfica did during the transfer window

Benfica Blog
The transfer window has closed throughout most of Europe with only a few league windows remaining open but from Europe's lesser leagues. Benfica completed some major moves both in and out at the club with their biggest change coming on the sideline by the hiring of manager Roger Schmidt who became the clubs first foreign manager since Quique Flores was at the club in 2009.

Benfica finished the summer transfer window with a positive €65M from what the club earned (€127.3M) and what the club spent (€62.3M), this total does not include the €40M the club will receive from qualifying for the Champions League group stage. 

The Breakdown of Benfica's 2022 summer transfer season:

Player Exits:

Darwin Nunez to Liverpool for €75M + add ons

Roman Yaremchuk to Club Brugge for €16M + add ons

Everton to Flamengo for €13.5M

Jota to Celtic for €7.3M

Gedson Fernandes to Besiktas for €6M

Carlos Vinicius to Fulham for €5M

Pedro Pereira to Monza for €2.5M

Nuno Santos to Charlotte for €1M

Haris Seferovic loaned to Galatasaray for €1M

Pizzi to Al Wahda on free transfer

Jan Vertonghen to Anderlecht on free transfer

Mile Svilar to Roma on free transfer

Julian Weigl on loan to Borussia Mochengladbach

Soualiho Meite on loan to Cremonese  

Gabriel on loan to Botafogo

Ferro on loan to Vitesse

Tiago Dantas on loan to PAOK

Valentino Lazaro returned to Inter Milan after loan spell

Nemanja Radonjic returned to Marseille after loan spell

Adel Taarabt became free agent


 

Player Arrivals:

David Neres from Shakhtar Donetsk for €15.3M

Fredrik Aursnes from Feyenoord for €13M

Enzo Fernandez from River Plate for €10M + add ons

Joao Victor from Corinthians for €8.5M 

Alexander Bah from Slavia Prague for €8M

Petar Musa from Boavista for €5M

Julian Draxler on loan from PSG for €2.5M

John Brooks signed as free agent previously at Stuttgart

Mihailo Ristic signed as free agent previously at Montpellier

Florentino returned from loan at Getafe

Chiquinho returned from loan at Giresunspor

Henrique Araujo moved up from Benfica B

Samuel Soares moved up from Benfica B

Antonio Silva moved up from Benfica B  

Thursday, September 1, 2022

Benfica make flurry of moves at deadline

Benfica Blog
Benfica made a flurry of moves during the final day of the summer transfer window for most of Europe's big leagues as they look to snap a dry spell in hardware this season.

Benfica announced the acquisition of winger Julian Draxler from PSG who will join the club on a season long loan for €2.5M, PSG will pay 80% of Draxler's salary and the loan does not include a buy option.

Benfica also acquired center back John Brooks on a free transfer, signing the 29 year old American for one season, the move helps shore up the middle of the defense, that thanks to injuries and departures had become rather thin. Brooks spent the past five season with Stuttgart in Germany.

Benfica sent midfielders Julian Weigl and Soualiho Meite out on loan for the season to Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cremonese, both midfielders loans include buy options, Weigl's option is for €15M and Meite's option has yet to be disclosed.

In an unexpected move, Fulham acquired striker Carlos Vinicius from Benfica for €5M, Vinicius was going into the second year of his loan at PSV which ended after the English club's move. Benfica will retain 50% of Vinicius' pass.

Benfica and center back Jan Vertonghen agreed to rescind the players contract, saving the club €3M on the final year of the deal. Vertonghen is already in Brussels and is set to sign with Anderlecht. Benfica did not stop there as the club and Adel Taarabt also mutually agreed to rescind the midfielders contract.

In a move that went under the radar, Benfica acquired center back Ricardo Teixeira from Leixoes for €300K, which gives the club 50% of the 21 year old's pass.

In an almost was move, current number one keeper Vlachodimos was set to join Ajax before the deal was halted at the final moments. Benfica were rumoured to have had a loan move set for PSG keeper Kaylor Navas as the replacement before the deal fell through.