Benfica end talks for Bento, looking at Madrid keeper

Benfica are said to have ended talks with Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense about acquiring keeper Bento, due to the high demands that the South American club has brought into the negotiations between the two sides.

Benfica still want to add an experienced keeper to back up and push current starting keeper Vlachodimos and the latest keeper on the clubs radar is Real Madrid back up Andriy Lunin.

The 24 year old Ukraine international has been in the back up role with Madrid for the past three seasons, only appearing in 17 games across all competitions. Benfica are said to have inquired about Lunin's availability with their Spanish neighbours. 

Benfica should look within league for back up keeper

With Benfica talks for keeper Bento at a standstill with Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense due to the club unwilling to budge on their asking price for the 24 year old, it is time that the Lisbon side look to within their league for a more experienced keeper to back up current starter Vlachodimos.

There are two keepers that the club could look to land for a relatively low price and that is Famalicao starter Luiz Junior and Gil Vicente starter Andrew. Both keepers have shown that they can play in the Portuguese League and both are an identical 22 years of age.

Junior is the more experienced of the two having already appeared in 105 games across all competitions for Famalicao while Andrew has appeared in 40 games across all competitions with Gil Vicente. The pair would have no issue stepping in for Vlachodimos if he were to go with an injury during the season and more importantly would provide Benfica with adequate goaltending during such a crucial time.

The time has come for Benfica to move pass Bento with the season just around the corner and into a smarter move for some league grown talent.

 

Super Cup date set for Benfica and FC Porto clash

The Super Cup game between last seasons league champion Benfica and last seasons Taca de Portugal winner FC Porto has been set for Tuesday August 9th at 8:45pm WEST and will take place in the Estadio Municipal de Aveiro. The Super Cup will kick off another Portuguese League season with Week 1 to kick off on the weekend.

Benfica and FC Porto will meet for the thirteenth time in the competition with Porto dominating this cup competition over their arch rivals eleven to one in their head to head encounters. Benfica are hoping to end am eight game losing skid to Porto in the competition and capture their first Super Cup trophy since 2019.