Manu Silva pushes for more minutes at Benfica under Marco Silva | OneFootball

Manu Silva is pushing to earn more minutes at Benfica under Marco Silva after a disrupted start to life at the club.

According to Glorioso 1904, the defensive midfielder has been named in squads regularly, yet game time has been limited in the opening weeks.

He signed from Vitória in January 2025 for 12 million euros. Wearing number 16, he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his third Benfica appearance.

That lay-off shaped his 2025/26, slowing his breakthrough. Fully fit, he started against St. Gallen in the first official match, then again versus Hearts, and also featured against Casa Pia.

Since Marco Silva arrived, he has made four appearances totalling 222 minutes, and has not played since 17 August.

Competition is stiff, with João Palhinha recruited to claim the starting role and Enzo Barrenechea impressing before his injury, leaving the 25-year-old with little margin.

With Palhinha away on recent national team duty, Manu stayed at Seixal to work closely with the staff, and had been courted by Bruno Lage. He is intent on regaining ground and proving he can be more than a secondary option.

Source: Glorioso 1904

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