With only 6 days left in the January 2013 transfer window, many feel that more changes are inevitable at the Benfica camp. Bruno Cesar (or Xuta Xuta) has departed to a team in Saudi Arabia that I cannot fatham to pronounce for 5.5M. This is considered a bonus at Benfica for a guy who although talented lacked minutes throughout the 2012/13 season.
Sir Alex Ferguson has offered 15M for the services of Ezequiel Garay whom in my opinion has carried the defensive line all season due to a missing captain Luisao. Benfica has declined and wants 30 and considering this guy is a working horse in the back and rarely gets hurt consider it a good deal for Manchester United. If Garay is sold this transfer season it clearly proves that Benfica are not interested in winning titles but just qualifying for UEFA champions league and happy with a third year as runner up in the Portuguese league.
Matic, Oscar Cardozo, Jardel, Fabio Cardoso, Leandro Pimenta have all locked in to Benfica some until 2018 and even 2019 with reidiculously high recession clauses. This just shows that President LFV is commited to continue his promise of rebuiling SLB for the future. And while we are discussing the future of SLB, although struggling in sixth place (only one win since t he beginning of 2013) the Benfica B team continues to show real depth and a brigh future for not only Benfica but Portugal. The Benfica B team is evident in the U19 and U21 and U23 teams whom mainly conist of young, bright talent in the B team.
With 12 goals in 17 games this season alone fans are demanding that B squad captain Miguel Rosa begin making an appearance in the main squad. Bruno Cesar has left and Pablo Aimar will be leaving at the end of the season and perhaps a few others may be leaving before the end of the month which means someone has to replace these guys.
Although many players have been rumoured to arrive at Benfica this month, no one doubts that these players will not be able to contribute and make a difference for Benfica, we should continue to promote from within. For example any of the following:
Domestic
Mika
Roderick
Fabio Cardoso
Joao Cancelo
Leandro Pimenta
Miguel Rosa
Ivan Cavaleiro
Foreign
Urreta
Carlos Ascues
Sidnei
Lionel Carole
22 year old Leroy Fer midfielder from FC Twente 6'2"is nicknamed De Uitsmijter (The Bouncer) by his youth club Feyenoord. He is on the Dutch u21 and has been compared to Patrick Viera. Fer is an old team mate of Ola John and If he is anything like John I'm sure he's a good player and will be a lethal force playing with John. I have never seen Fer play but he sounds like a 6 which we don't need because we have Matić, and Almeida or if he is an 8 then we have Enzo, Gomes, Rosa.
Gonçalo Santos 26 mid Estoril Praia is contracted until 2015 and I can't see benfica wanting to break the contract unless he comes cheap. Again we have tons of 6's and 8's at least Fer has history with Ola John and would adapt well.
Vitor from Paços De Ferreira is a center mid and is 29 years old. For some strange reason I can see this guy making the move especially since PDF may end up in that ever important third spot in the league this season. He has 2 league goals and 3 Taça goals. Played all league games so far this season
Ricardo is a 19 year old striker from Guimaraes. With the amount of strikers Benfica has on loan we don't need this guy. If you want to give a young kid a chance then look at Ivan Cavaleiro who plays on the B Team and has 7 goals this season. Although he is a winger he can adapt in the striker/ forward position. JJ loves adapting players.
Finally, Luis Fariña,and Ricardo Centurion from Racing Avellaneda, Argentina. Centurion has been offered 7.5M to Anzhi in Russia and is rumoured to begin there at the beginning of the summer. Whereas 19 year old midfielder Luis Fariña can very well make the move to Benfica. Unless of course FC Porto lure him away (Alex Sandro, James were ours)
LFV promised us a surprise after winning the Presidential elections in November. It is now January and we're still waiting. The ultimate surprise is breaking FC Porto's 3 year winning streak by doing it at the Dragao stadium and winning a Taca De Portugal or EUROPA League wouldn't hurt either.
Força Benfica.
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