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Benfica are one of the oldest clubs in the history of European football, but they have also recently made a name for themselves in the South American transfer market. Will they win another gold medal in a new land this January?
The two-time European champions, who hail from the Portuguese capital Lisbon, have a smooth operation in their transfer business. Benfica has gained a reputation for excellent scouting and development of South American players, then selling those talents for huge profits.
Argentina’s World Cup winners Angel Di Maria and Enzo Fernandes made Benfica their first home in Europe. So was Ederson. Last season, he won the European treble with Manchester City. For a variety of reasons, Benfica proved to be the perfect stepping stone for these South American stars and many others.
In the January 2024 transfer window, Benfica entered the market again, signing two more young South American talents. One came from Brazil and the other from Argentina. The club will be hoping that one or both of these players can help them win silver in Portugal before they are inevitably swept up by the continent’s big names.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City from the Premier League have all spent big on signing South American talent from Benfica. Of course, Portuguese clubs would like to compete directly with these clubs, but given that such a thing is almost impossible, they could sell young star players for much more than they bought them for. , it might be better to profit from it.
Marcos Leonardo is a young forward from Brazil who recently joined Benfica from Santos for a transfer fee of over $20 million. Leonardo has already played and scored goals for Benfica and his potential is frightening. In recent days, Argentine winger Benjamin Rolheiser has joined the club for a fee of just over $10 million.
Benfica are now experts in that field. Scout talent, develop talent, and sell talent. If these two rising stars can fulfill their potential, they could each be on the move for upwards of $40 million or more in the next few years. That’s certainly the case with 20-year-old Marcos Leonardo. The Brazilian has already scored two goals in two games for Benfica and scored 21 goals for relegated Santos last season.
Within a few years, Benfica will allow young South American players to adapt to a new culture and style of football. They can hone their skills, keep up with the pace of European football, and even win trophies while they sit in shop windows waiting for Europe’s big-money powerhouse teams to arrive.
Benfica and their excellent model could persuade young South American talent to join the Lisbon-based team, rather than going to the likes of Real Madrid or Manchester City and being loaned back to their previous team. For up-and-coming players from Argentina and Brazil, this has proven to be the path to the top.
Marcos Leonardo has scored more goals than he has played for Brazil Under-20s. Meanwhile, Rolheiser won four national titles in Argentina. He played three times for River Plate and once for his last club Estudiantes in December. Benfica originally planned to loan Rorshaiser to Argentina for six months, but he later changed his mind and is now training with Portugal’s first team.
Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the European Cup last season, but also released talents such as Enzo Fernandes in 2023 and Darwin Nunez last season. These South American talents will have to be replaced and perhaps Rolheiser and Leonardo will prove to be the next generation of top talent.
Enzo and Darwin recently left Benfica for fees of $130 million and $90 million, respectively. If Leonardo or Rolheiser can attract such a sum, it would be a job well done by both player and club, and a new historic relationship between Benfica and the South American star.
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