What Benfica would like in 2023

2022 is behind us and 2023 is ahead and for Benfica fans and the club the hope is that 2023 will be a memorable year. Benfica suffered their first loss of the season on Friday under the guidance of Roger Schmidt in Week 14 of league play. The suffered a humiliating defeat to Braga 3-0, a game that the club looked out of rhyme after a long pause thanks to World Cup 2022.

Benfica currently have a five point lead with 20 league games to play and the club are hoping that 2023 sees the club win their 38th championship and first since the 2018/19 season. Benfica are also still in the Taca de Portugal and are set to face Varzim in the round of 16 this month. Benfica last won the Taca de Portugal in 2017. 

Finally the club are still in UEFA's biggest club tournament also known as the Champions League where they will face off against Club Brugge in the round of 16 in February. The club should also continue to see a windfall in player sales in 2023 with Enzo Fernandez and Goncalo Ramos at this time as the two players that could add more to the clubs coffers.

Benfica preparing for Enzo exit

Benfica have accepted the fact that midfielder Enzo Fernandez will have his release clause of €120M met when the January transfer window opens, amid a battle between three European clubs to land the recent World Cup winners signature. Fernandez who was named the best young player of World Cup 2022 with Argentina is set to land in Lisbon today to resume his career with Benfica, however games may remain.

Benfica have already rejected a €100M bid for the 21 year old from an unnamed club but they are set to sit with Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes in the coming days, who will present the club with the €120M that will activate Enzo's release. The three clubs that have been rumoured to be leading the way to land Enzo are Liverpool and Newcastle in England and Real Madrid in Spain. Benfica are already looking in South America for Enzo's replacement.

Dortmund linked with Grimaldo move

German club Borussia Dortmind are the latest club linked with a move for Benfica left back Alex Grimaldo in January when the Spaniard will be able to sign with any club for free with his contract at Benfica expiring at the end of the season. Dortmund are looking to replace Portuguese international Raphael Guerreiro who will be moving on from the club in the summer when his contract also expires.

The 27 year old has been with Benfica since the summer of 2016 appearing in 276 games across all competitions, scoring 22 goals while setting up 55. Grimaldo has captured eight trophies while at Benfica, with three of them being Portuguese League titles. Benfica are still hoping to re-sign Grimaldo to a new contract but will be in tough as European clubs circle.