Benfica want Galatasaray centre-back, but salary is beyond Rui Costa | OneFootball

The search for a new center-back has become a priority for Benfica’s decision-makers, given António Silva’s imminent departure to Bournemouth. The Eagles’ SAD is moving quickly in the market to find a replacement.

Stepán Chaloupek has already been mentioned. Now, another name has emerged: Davidson Sánchez. The Galatasaray center-back is highly rated by the Eagles. However, his salary exceeds the wage ceiling of the club led by Rui Costa.

The Colombian international, capped 84 times, was part of the national team that took part in the recent World Cup, where he faced Ghana and Switzerland. Davidson is a compatriot of Richard Ríos and Jhon Durán, both Benfica players.

In 2017, the Colombian became, at the time, Tottenham’s most expensive signing, with the club paying €44 million to bring him in from Ajax. With many years in Europe and plenty of experience, he would fit at the Eagles, but the price put a stop to any move.

In the 2025/26 season, playing for Galatasaray, Davidson Sánchez - valued at €16 million - featured in 45 matches: 30 in the Turkish League, 11 in the Champions League, two in the Turkish Cup and another two in the Turkish Super Cup. In the 3,684 minutes he was on the pitch, the Colombian scored two goals.

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