Franjo Ivanovic struggling at Benfica, but has a plan in mind | OneFootball

Franjo Ivanovic’s first season in Portugal will be one to forget. So far, the forward has yet to convince José Mourinho or justify the significant investment made by Benfica last summer. However, the Croatian is not throwing in the towel.

According to the newspaper A Bola, sources close to the player reveal that Ivanovic is frustrated with the season he is having at Luz, largely due to the limited playing time he has received, especially since José Mourinho took over as head coach of the Eagles.

To make matters worse, the number 9 has only logged 25 minutes on the pitch over the last seven matches combined, showing that he is not seen as essential for the Special One. On the other hand, Mourinho has already explained that his limited use is due to the fact that his characteristics do not match the profile desired by the 63-year-old coach.

Nevertheless, currently the third top scorer for the Glorioso, with five goals, behind Schjelderup (6) and Pavlidis (28) – but in a less positive phase – Ivanovic remains focused on making his mark at Luz, always giving his best in training and in the few opportunities he has had. His goal is to secure a spot at the World Cup and greater visibility at Benfica in 2026/27.

This season, playing for Benfica, Franjo Ivanovic – valued at 20 million euros – has already played a total of 33 official matches: 16 in Liga Portugal Betclic, 11 in the Champions League, four in the Portuguese Cup, and two in the League Cup. In the 1,127 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the Croatian has recorded five goals and one assist.

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