Otamendi leaves huge legacy at Benfica: farewell stats stun | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi brought his time at Benfica to an end after six seasons in which he established himself as one of the biggest figures at the Club of Light. Signed in 2020 from Manchester City for €15 million, the Argentine international quickly took on a central role in the Eagles’ dressing room, becoming captain just a few months after arriving.

Right from his unveiling, Otamendi made a promise to the fans: to defend Benfica “until death.” From his debut against Farense in October 2020 to his final match against Estoril, the Argentine made 281 appearances with the eagle on his chest, numbers that make him one of the most-used players in Portuguese football over the last six seasons.

. Of the 281 matches played, he failed to complete the full 90 minutes in only 11.

Otamendi’s influence went beyond the pitch. Jorge Jesus handed him the captain’s armband in 2020, in a decision that was initially controversial but soon proved to be the right one. The Argentine’s experience, leadership and personality made him one of the strongest voices in Benfica’s dressing room in recent years.

Nicolás Otamendi now leaves Benfica with four titles won: one league title, one League Cup and two Cândido de Oliveira Super Cups. After six remarkable seasons at the Luz, the experienced centre-back closes this chapter as one of the most important figures of the Eagles’ recent era.

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