TRANSFER TROUBLES Are Benfica’s defenders worth their €30m release clauses?
Last night’s 4-2 humbling at the hands of Napoli - who could have added a goal or two more - hasn’t just shocked the Eagles, it may have dissuaded Inter and Juventus from pursuing certain talents further- especially Viktor Lindelof and Nelson Semedo, not to mention midfielder Andrè Horta.
Semedo, an Inter target, had a nightmare on the right as he struggled to contain Dries Mertens, who ended up with a brace. Juventus hopeful Horta was outclassed in central midfield, while Viktor Lindelof was perhaps less guilty than partner Lisandro Lopez… who just so happens to be a long-term target of Fiorentina, who came close to signing him in January.
Either way, the Swede struggled to contain Arkadiusz Milik, and was spared further blushes by the Pole’s inaccuracy. What is certainly beyond doubt is that the Eagles are asking for far too much for their young talents: release clauses of €30 million+ seem frankly exhorbitant at this stage, especially after the whole defence had its pants pulled down in primetime.
What if we said that the only talent worth scouting is Alex Grimaldo, a former pupil of Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique when they coached Barcelona’s reserves?
ET, adapted by Edo Dalmonte
