Rui Costa ‘used a spy’ to watch Benfica target Marco Silva | OneFootball

Rui Costa ‘used a spy’ to watch Benfica target Marco Silva | OneFootball

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·12 May 2026

Rui Costa ‘used a spy’ to watch Benfica target Marco Silva

Article image:Rui Costa ‘used a spy’ to watch Benfica target Marco Silva

A Bola reports that Rui Costa ‘used a spy’ to assess Fulham coach Marco Silva, who is viewed as a Benfica target should José Mourinho leave for Real Madrid.

The individual was Paulo Madeira, a former Benfica defender and captain, now a FIFA-licensed agent, who travelled to England to attend Fulham’s recent 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Craven Cottage.


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His presence at the ground raised the possibility that he had been sent by Benfica, given his close ties to the club and particularly to Rui Costa, to watch the 48-year-old.

It would not be the first time Benfica have turned to Madeira. He also maintains a good relationship with José Mourinho and was directly involved in the coach’s return to the Estádio da Luz after leaving Fenerbahçe.

He could now help to mediate a possible move for Marco Silva, and the idea gathered momentum after Madeira posted images from the Fulham match on his Instagram account.

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