Plot to hinder Benfica in Mario Tudose transfer revealed | OneFootball

Mario Tudose went through Benfica’s youth system between 2021 and 2023. Now in Romania, the center-back was linked with a move to Steaua Bucharest, in a transfer that would harm the Eagles, who still own half of the defender’s rights.

According to information reported by the newspaper A Bola, Gigi Becali, investor and president of Steaua, opened negotiations with Dani Coman, president of Arges Pitesti—the player’s current club—as friends. The asking price was 2 million euros, which Becali considered too high, but it would have to be split with Benfica.

According to Becali, Coman came up with a solution: Steaua would pay 800 thousand euros, but Benfica would receive only 200 thousand. For this, Tudose would be transferred for 400 thousand euros, with 50% going to the Eagles, and then Steaua would buy another player from Arges Pitesti for more than his expected value, for 600 thousand euros.

“I knew Dani Coman as a man of integrity, honest, an impressive man, but I had never seen anything like this in my life! Initially, I told him I would give a million euros, 500 thousand euros to Benfica and 500 thousand to FC Arges. He told me, however, to make a Romanian-style deal, offering 400 thousand euros. I would give €400 thousand, Benfica would get €200 thousand, and then we would get another player from FC Arges for €600 thousand, so we could trick Benfica. That way, FC Arges would get €800 thousand and Benfica only €200 thousand,” revealed Gigi Becali.

For these reasons, the deal was never completed and the relationship between the two directors deteriorated. Mario Tudose continues to play for Arges Pitesti, now in his third consecutive season in Romania, after leaving Benfica in 2022/23.

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