Official! Cabral and Banjaqui team-mate says emotional Benfica goodbye | OneFootball

It’s official. António Mendes is no longer part of Benfica. The young centre-back, who can also play at right-back, said goodbye to the Club of Light on social media, bringing to an end a connection that shaped much of his development as a footballer.

In the message he posted, the former teammate of Anísio Cabral and Banjaqui made a point of thanking Benfica for all the support he received over the last few years. "Another sporting season comes to an end, one in which I grew and learned a lot. And with the end of this season, a very important chapter in my life also comes to an end. I want to thank Benfica for never letting me lack anything and for helping me immensely while I was part of this huge Club", he wrote.

The 17-year-old also did not forget everyone who was with him during his time at Seixal. "To everyone who crossed my path, believed in me and was very important in my development, thank you", he said.

At the end, he left special words for his teammates. "I also want to leave words of thanks to my teammates, who gave me many happy moments, and I want to make it clear that I am rooting for each and every one of them, even though I am no longer with them, they are like brothers to me. I carry Benfica in my heart and all the moments in this beautiful Club for life", he concluded.

António Mendes joined Benfica in 2023, after several years in Sporting’s academy - where Henrique Tavares ended up - , and was part of Benfica’s Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 teams. Last season, he made 13 appearances for the Junior B team (Under-17), now ending his spell at Benfica with a message full of emotion and gratitude.

See the player’s post:

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