Marco Silva blocks Tiago Gouveia's exit from Benfica | OneFootball

Tiago Gouveia wants to make the most of pre-season to establish himself in Benfica’s squad and secure a place in the first team. The change in the dugout, with José Mourinho’s departure and Marco Silva’s arrival, has reopened the door for the 24-year-old winger, who can also play at right-back.

The player, who initially was not part of José Mourinho’s plans, is now undergoing a fresh assessment by the coaching staff. Marco Silva wants to evaluate the entire group during the training camp in Seixal, and Tiago Gouveia will be one of the players under direct observation.

The new coach knows the winger’s profile well, having at one point considered signing him for Fulham, a move that ultimately did not materialize. That factor is fueling the player’s hope of relaunching his career at the Estádio da Luz. It should be remembered that Tiago Gouveia was one of the players used most regularly in the 2023/24 season under Roger Schmidt, making 26 appearances and playing an important role in the squad. This could indeed be a decisive opportunity, considering he is under contract until 2028.

Last season, his loan spell at Nice fell short of expectations. The winger featured in 25 matches, only 11 as a starter, and scored two goals, both against Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League. The French club ultimately chose not to trigger the €8 million purchase option.

Competition in Benfica’s squad is intense. Gianluca Prestianni and Dodi Lukébakio are currently ahead in the race for the right side of the attack, although a possible departure for the Belgian international has not been ruled out. At right-back, Tiago Gouveia will have to compete with Amar Dedić, Alexander Bah and Daniel Banjaqui, although not all of them are expected to remain in the squad for the new season.

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