Cristiano Ronaldo’s rival could lure Rafa Silva away from Benfica | OneFootball

Al Ahli emerges as the latest interested party in signing Rafa. The information, reported by the Turkish newspaper Fanatik, places the Saudi club in the race, complicating Benfica's situation. This club is one of the main competitors of Cristiano Ronaldo's team in the local championship, promising to stir up this transfer window with a strong offensive.

According to the same news source, the Arab officials have already presented a concrete proposal to secure the Portuguese athlete's services immediately. Although the exact amounts offered have not been disclosed, the financial capacity of the Middle East is often a significant factor in these complex negotiations with European clubs, challenging any possible competition.

Besiktas initially demanded around 15 million euros for the Portuguese forward's transfer. However, faced with the pressing need to make a significant financial gain, the Turks have reportedly lowered their demands to 13 million. This reduction in the asking price could accelerate negotiations with Cristiano Ronaldo's direct rival.

Benfica considers all scenarios

Benfica remains very attentive to Rafa's situation and has drastically changed its strategic approach. After initially refusing to pay any amount to Besiktas, the structure led by Rui Costa is now considering putting millions on the table to bring back the fans' idol, in a move that would be rare.

This season, playing for Besiktas, Rafa Silva — valued at 5 million euros — has played 16 official matches: 10 in the Süper Lig, four in the Conference League, and two in the Europa League qualifying phase. In the 1,360 minutes played, the player, who has a contract valid until June 2028, scored five goals and provided three assists.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.