Benfica not giving up on retaining Rafa Silva

Benfica are not going to go down without a fight when it comes to Rafa Silva, who is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of this season. According to reports out of Portugal, Benfica are making one last gasp to retain Rafa beyond this season, even though they know they can not provide the annual salary rumoured to be offered by Qatari club Al-Sadd.

Rafa is said to not only be on the radar of Al-Sadd, but Lazio, AC Milan and Manchester United have also been linked with the 30 year old attacker. Benfica manager Roger Schmidt is pushing hard to keep Rafa with Benfica and has President Rui Costa looking for creative ways to find a salary structure that can work to the players liking.

Rafa has been at Benfica since the summer of 2016 and has appeared in his 300th game for the club over the past month. Benfica knows that they are in tough to retain Rafa, but they are looking at a salary structure mixed with bonuses that can appease the player and have him continue to represent the club after the season.

Benfica blow chance to move on in Taca da Liga

Benfica failed once again to capture the Taca da Liga Cup after not being able to get past Estoril in yesterday's semi-final encounter. Benfica fell behind in the first half but equalized early in the second, but could not find the winner before being taken to penalties and losing 5-4 to Estoril after a 1-1 regulation draw.

Estoril now advances to face Braga on Saturday, who knocked out Sporting in the other semi-final match, turning this weekend's final into an unexpected affair. Benfica missed a series of chances during the game that could have seen the club move into the final but were unable to capitalize and they will join the host of clubs set to watch the Final on their sofas.

Benfica look to recapture Taca da Liga glory

In a competition that Benfica used to have a strangle hold on from its inception, the Lisbon club has now gone almost eight years since capturing this trophy, making the finals only once during this time frame.

Benfica captured the Taca da Liga seven of the first nine years of the competition's existence before going on their current dry spell, they hope to change that this week as the club enters the Final Four stage and gets set to face Estoril on Wednesday while city rivals Sporting take on Braga in the other semi-final game.

The winners of the semi-final games will play one another on Saturday, January 27th, in Leiria. Benfica go into the competition on a thirteen game unbeaten run across all competitions.