After Rui Costa’s comments, João Rego has reason to smile at Benfica | OneFootball

João Rego may gain ground in José Mourinho’s selections. The academy midfielder is expected to start in Chaves vs. Benfica, scheduled for this Friday at 7:30 p.m., despite the Portuguese coach’s statements, who, besides tearing into the refereeing, said he would not make many changes.

If this scenario is confirmed, it will be the first time João Rego starts for Benfica’s first team. It remains to be seen which position in José Mourinho’s system the midfielder will occupy, with the most likely being to play behind the striker, whether that’s Vangelis Pavlidis or Franjo Ivanovic.

: “He hasn’t renewed yet, he’s in the process of renewing, but it’s not a problem for Benfica. He has a contract until 2028; there’s a renewal process that needs to be done. There’s time, but it should already have been done.”

Chaves vs. Benfica is scheduled for this Friday, October 17, at 7:30 p.m., at Estádio Municipal Eng.º Manuel Branco Teixeira. The match is part of the third round of the Portuguese Cup and will be broadcast on RTP, marking José Mourinho’s side’s debut in the 2025/26 edition of the competition.

This season, for Benfica’s first team, João Rego — valued at 3 million euros — has played three matches, all in Liga Portugal Betclic, totaling only 16 minutes as a used substitute. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder is under contract with the Eagles until June 2028.

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