Gabriel Índio ‘a horse’, says coach, as Marco Silva lines up Benfica’s first 2026/27 signing | OneFootball

Gabriel Índio is set to become Benfica’s first signing of the Marco Silva era, with the club moving quickly to land the 20-year-old centre-back from Brazil’s Athletic Club and ward off competition from several European sides.

Viewed as a long-term option at the heart of defence, the Brazilian’s arrival would come as the squad is reshaped for 2026/27.

Rui Duarte, the coach who handed him his debut at Athletic Club de Minas Gerais, highlighted the defender’s early maturity. “What led me to give him his debut at Athletic Club was the maturity he showed from a very young age, first with the under-17s, where he really stood out. We quickly realised that competitive context could not be his. He is still a boy, despite being very prepared,” he said, speaking to Desporto ao Minuto.

He also praised Índio’s physical profile. “Physically you will see he is a monster. You look at him and he is a man, a real man, he is a horse.”

Índio’s potential addition aligns with Benfica’s defensive refresh for 2026/27, as Silva readies for his first season in charge and seeks solutions for both present and future.

Source: Glorioso 1904