Benfica want to stop Serie A star joining Sporting | OneFootball

Benfica have identified Tiago Gabriel as one of the possible reinforcements for the centre of defence. The Lecce defender, who is also on Sporting’s radar, has generated strong international interest, and the rival club is now one of the sides in the race.

which reports the Eagles’ interest in the Portugal Under-21 international. At 21, the defender enjoyed a breakthrough season in Italian football after leaving Estrela da Amadora in January 2025.

Tiago Gabriel managed to earn his place and established himself as one of the team’s main options, helping the club stay up in Serie A. In recent months, Lecce turned down a €20 million offer from English side Brentford. German giants Bayern Munich and Spanish side Barcelona are also keeping an eye on the player.

One of the reasons behind the green-and-white club’s interest in the young centre-back, besides the strong performances he has been putting in, is the fact that the player came through the academy at Sporting, where he played in the youth ranks between 2014 and 2020.

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

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