Mourinho keeping tabs on Benfica youngster who could earn game time | OneFootball

Benfica have a young player gaining internal prominence after making his debut for the first team. Despite stepping out of the spotlight, Tiago Freitas has remained on the technical staff’s radar, led by José Mourinho. His day-to-day work continues to be closely monitored.

The "Special One" was pleased with the player’s characteristics and remains attentive to his development. The midfielder made his debut against Napoli, but a ligament injury halted his breakthrough moment. After recovering, he returned to regular training.

The player has been a regular presence in first-team sessions. His physical ability, intensity and competitive profile fit what the coach is looking for - and he is already looking ahead to the 2026/2027 season. The coaching staff intend to keep monitoring him until the end of the season.

At 19, Tiago Freitas continues to split his time between the B team and training with the senior squad. His integration into pre-season is practically guaranteed. The aim is to assess the youngster more closely. Currently, the midfielder is with Portugal’s Under-20 national team. The player scored in the win against Switzerland and is preparing for new fixtures. He will then return to Benfica to continue his development.

This season, playing for Benfica, Tiago Freitas - valued at €550,000 - has already made a total of 31 official appearances: 18 in Liga Portugal Meu Super, six in the UEFA Youth League, six in Liga Revelação and one in the Champions League. In the 1,491 minutes he has been on the pitch, the midfielder has recorded five goals and four assists.

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