After another spark, Franjo Ivanovic could trigger new Benfica 'crisis' | OneFootball

Franjo Ivanovic is once again struggling in his debut season. According to what has been reported, the forward has still not fully convinced the Benfica hierarchy, with the board, led by Rui Costa, considering the possibility of the Croatian leaving at the end of the season.

According to Record newspaper, the Eagles have not yet given up on the idea of signing a striker with different characteristics in order to meet José Mourinho’s demands. If that happens, Ivanovic could end up losing what little space he already has in Benfica’s squad.

Thus, as the same source explains, not even Ivanovic’s recent resurgence, in which he proved decisive in the matches against Porto and Arouca, eases the uncertainty surrounding his future at the club, at a time when Rui Costa is considering the departure of several players from the Reds’ squad.

The truth is that Ivanovic has still not managed to step out of Vangelis Pavlidis’ shadow, as he has been Benfica’s undisputed first-choice striker. The situation is evident in the fact that the Greek, despite going through a goal drought, continues to enjoy the Special One’s trust, to the detriment of the Croatian, who had been in better form.

This season, playing for Benfica, Franjo Ivanovic — valued at €20 million — has already made 35 official appearances: 18 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 11 in the Champions League, four in the Portuguese Cup and two in the League Cup. In the 1,169 minutes he has been on the pitch, the Croatian has recorded six goals and two assists.

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