Rui Costa set to offload Benfica academy star soon | OneFootball

Henrique Araújo is expected to leave Benfica in January. According to gathered information, the Portuguese forward might be on his way out after half a season with limited opportunities. Rui Costa and José Mourinho will have a say on the matter, but this scenario is more than certain.

As revealed by the newspaper A Bola, the future of the 23-year-old striker has been assessed by Benfica's management, based on the available options and the needs José Mourinho has for Benfica's squad. The player from Madeira has been a noticeable absence in the selections of the Special One.

The likelihood of his departure increased after the 23-year-old forward missed the game against Nacional due to a myalgia. The same happened in the derby last Friday, December 5, against Sporting, where Henrique Araújo was not included in José Mourinho's selections. The Portuguese player has recovered and is preparing to return to training.

The truth is that Henrique Araújo is seen as the third option for Benfica's attack, behind names like Vangelis Pavlidis and Franjo Ivanovic. Thus, it is more than certain that the number 39 — loaned to Arouca in 2024/25 — will leave Luz in January. The same source reveals that the athlete has options both inside and outside of Portugal.

Henrique Araújo — valued at 2 million euros — is one of the most well-known names from the recent years of Benfica's youth academy. In the current season, the former under-21 international played 12 official matches between the main and secondary teams of Benfica. In the 135 minutes he was on the pitch, the player has not recorded any goals or assists.

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