Paulo Robles says Benfica winger won't get a look-in under Marco Silva | OneFootball

Dodi Lukebakio, who had no future at Luz while José Mourinho remained in charge, is now taking advantage of the international fixtures to convince Marco Silva that he deserves to be part of the Eagles’ squad next season. However, Paulo Robles believes his lack of defensive commitment may not please the new coach.

"Lukebakio can play both on the right and on the left, and the problem with him is not really the attacking side of the game. It is more a question of commitment to the team from a defensive point of view. That is something Marco Silva does not let slide", he began by saying on a BOLA TV programme.

The Porto Alto coach reinforced his opinion. "Any player who is part of that squad has to show total commitment in terms of both the attacking and defensive perspective. But at first glance, Lukebakio could lose some ground", he said.

Paulo Robles also highlighted the need to bring in money. "It could be one of the market possibilities, especially because his performances were not very positive. He had that falling-out with José Mourinho. He is a player who could eventually be on the list of those Benfica want to put on the market, also because Benfica need to make money, given their absence from the Champions League", he explained.

In the 2025/26 season, playing for Benfica and Sevilla, Dodi Lukebakio - valued at 15 million euros - made 25 official appearances: 17 in the Liga Portugal Betclic, four in the Champions League, two in La Liga, one in the Portuguese Cup and one in the League Cup. In the 1,347 minutes he spent on the pitch, the Belgian winger scored two goals and provided three assists.

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