by If last year the closing of the winter transfer market was relatively quiet in Luz, this year things are very different. Benfica are one of the national flags that have moved the most in this “window” and the uncertainty surrounding Enzo Fernandez, with a release clause of 120 million euros and coveted by Chelsea for several weeks, promises to drag on until the final minutes of this Tuesday when the “window” closes.
This Monday, from England, news circulating throughout the day felt that Chelsea’s signing of the Argentine midfielder was certain. You “blues» would be willing to beat the release clause set by Benfica, with some guys even talking about the figure of €130 million.
If these figures are confirmed, Enzo Fernández’s transfer will become the most expensive ever for an English club (surpassing the €114 million that Jack Grealish paid for Manchester City to Aston Villa in 2021). And it would also become the biggest earner for a Portuguese club, with Benfica surpassing Atletico Madrid’s £120m for Joao Felix in 2019 – regardless of whether the sum was later not all for the selling club . Enzo Fernández would even become the club’s highest-paid midfielder, surpassing the €105 million paid by Manchester United to Juventus in 2016.
But the movements and the positions taken were many during this Monday. Roger Schmidt, the coach of the “incarnated”, referred to the matter again in the press conference that previewed Tuesday’s game, with Aruca, the 18th game of the I Liga and where Gonzalo Ramos, injured, will not be and not if Enzo Fernandez you will be there.
“We all know that we have a situation with Enzo where he has a clause in his contract, which means that if the player wants it and there is a club that pays that amount, you cannot stop him. Of course you have to be prepared. for that, we have to find solutions,” Schmidt said, resigned. The footballer was at the club’s training center “incarnated” but did not train with the rest of the team.
Yesterday, in Luz, was the final sale of Gil Dias, who became a Stuttgart player, in a deal that could reach two million euros, depending on the fulfillment of the objectives.
Joao Cancelo in Germany
Germany will also be João Cancelo’s new home. The Portugal international has been loaned from Manchester City to Bayern Munich until the end of this season, with the Germans able to keep the player permanently if they shell out €70m.
From an undisputed starter to a side in poor condition and rarely used by “the citizens”, Cancelo’s situation changed in a few months and with the news that the Portuguese lost points with the coach Pep Guardiola, with whom he even had a disagreement.
Leaving Sporting for Tottenham, despite the flimsy negotiations, will be Pedro Porro, for a sum that should total 47.5 million euros plus 15% of the pass of the Englishman Marcus Edwards, a footballer who plays in Alvalade and whose passing has so far been shared between the “lions” and the “spurs” (50% for each side).
Poro, who had already said goodbye to the “leonine” fans on Saturday, at the end of the League Cup and who missed Monday’s training session for the “lions”, will thus become Antonio Conte’s player and, if this value is confirmed in deal, the Spaniard’s transfer would be close to the five biggest full-back signings to date.
Spanish winger Hector Bellerin will head to Alvalade to replace Porro on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season.
Sports signs
Arriving at Alvalade is central defender Diomandé, from the Ivory Coast, currently playing for Mafra in the II League, on loan from Danish side Midtjylland. At just 19 years old, the Ivorian will cost the Lions €12.5m (€7.5m plus 5m goals) with the Scandinavians still entitled to 20% of the future added value. The defender could therefore become the most expensive defender in the history of Sporting fans, surpassing St. Juste, who was hired for 12 million in 2022 (9.5 as initial budget and 2.5 in goals).
Finally, Sp. Braga. The current vice-leader of the league was reinforced by the Portuguese international Pizzi. The midfielder, currently 33, has left Al Wahda, a club from the United Arab Emirates he joined at the start of the current season, and has signed a contract that runs until 2024.
Thus, the Portuguese international joins Bruma and Joe Mendes in Sp. Braga, who may see Vitinia leave – the English media guaranteed that Southampton had won the 22-year-old striker’s release clause and that it was €30m.
