Benfica offer €20m for centre-back who left Sporting for free | OneFootball

Benfica remain active in the transfer market and could make a move for another centre-back: Tiago Gabriel, currently playing for Lecce. The Eagles have reportedly already opened talks in an attempt to secure the young Portuguese defender who came through Sporting.

At 21, he established himself this season in the Italian side, playing an important role in their Serie A survival. The footballer earned regular starter status and has been attracting the attention of several clubs, including Benfica, who are said to have already made an offer worth around €20 million, according to journalist Nicolò Schira.

However, Lecce do not appear willing to make his departure easy. The club are asking for a fee between €25 million and €30 million and are under no pressure to sell, especially since the player is under contract until June 2029. Even so, the club from Luz continues to consider strengthening the heart of the defence.

Tiago Gabriel came through the youth ranks at the Alvalade club between 2014 and 2020, before continuing his development at Vitória de Setúbal and later Estrela da Amadora. He joined Lecce in 2025, where he has been establishing himself in professional football.

In the 2025/26 season, Tiago Gabriel - valued at €15 million - made 39 official appearances for Lecce: 37 in Serie A and two in the Coppa Italia. In the 3,400 minutes he spent on the pitch, the player scored two goals.

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