Champions League absence makes Rafa Silva cheaper for Benfica | OneFootball

By finishing third in Liga Portugal Betclic, Benfica will miss out on the next edition of the Champions League, which will mean a substantial drop in revenue. However, missing out on Europe’s elite competition will, on the other hand, end up benefiting the Lisbon club when it comes to Rafa Silva.

According to Fanatik, Benfica will not have to pay around €2 million to Besiktas, the club from which the Eagles signed the Portuguese international. Based on what the Turkish daily reported, the Eagles had agreed to pay that bonus if they qualified for the Champions League, which did not happen.

It should be remembered that the Portuguese footballer, who turned 33 last Sunday, May 17, cost the Eagles around €5 million. In addition to the amount paid by Rui Costa’s structure, the Reds had also agreed to the bonus that will not be triggered, since Benfica will not play in the Champions League.

On the other hand, missing out on the biggest continental competition will mean a drastic change in Benfica’s revenue in 2026/27. While in the Champions League the Lisbon club earned around €53.1 million this season, next year, even if they go on to win the Europa League, they would only collect a figure close to €32.66 million.

In the 2025/26 season, playing for Benfica, Rafa Silva - valued at €6 million - made 18 official appearances: 16 in Liga Portugal Betclic and two in the Champions League. In the 1,084 minutes he spent on the pitch, the 33-year-old forward scored six goals.

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