Palhinha to wear 36 at Benfica, keeping six tradition | OneFootball

According to Glorioso 1904, Palhinha will wear 36 at Benfica because the number six is already taken by Alexander Bah, who has held it since 2022. The Portugal international has long preferred to keep the digit six on his shirt.

João Palhinha has arrived to fill the holding role in Marco Silva’s midfield, but he cannot use his favoured six on his back.

At Benfica he has opted for 36, a squad number he has not used before as a senior player. The choice lets him keep his personal tradition of carrying the six digit.

When he broke through at Sporting he wore 66, then 60 during loans at Moreirense and Braga. Only on returning to Alvalade did he finally take six.

English football brought further changes, with 26 at Fulham and 16 at Bayern Munich, before he reclaimed six at Tottenham last season. Now back in Portugal, he continues that theme at Benfica with 36.

Source: Glorioso 1904

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”