Racing Santander's top player lined up as Ríos replacement at Benfica | OneFootball

Richard Ríos could be on his way out of Benfica just one season after arriving at Luz. The Colombian international continues to attract strong interest from abroad. Benfica’s SAD is said to have already identified a possible successor: Gustavo Puerta, a Colombian midfielder who plays for Racing Santander.

The possibility of Ríos leaving gained momentum after Bruno Andrade revealed that Benfica had put the player on the market and that his representatives are already in Europe with the aim of sorting out the footballer’s future. Newcastle and Napoli are two of the clubs closely monitoring the situation of the Benfica shirt holder.

Given this scenario, Gustavo Puerta has emerged as one of the options on the table to fill the spot left by his compatriot. The 23-year-old midfielder was linked with Porto at the start of the summer transfer window, but remains with Racing Santander. Last season, Puerta played 33 matches, contributing three goals and one assist.

The Colombian joined the Spanish club from Bayer Leverkusen, in a transfer worth €3.5 million, and quickly took on a prominent role in the team. Puerta’s importance became even more evident during the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder was one of the surprises of the tournament and became a key figure in the run to the round of 16, having started every match played by Colombia. .

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