Alert! Marco Silva at Benfica could change Ivanovic's future | OneFootball

Franjo Ivanović is getting ready to begin a new chapter at Benfica with the arrival of Marco Silva as head coach. After a season below expectations, the Croatian striker will have the chance to show his worth to the new manager, who appreciates the player’s qualities and intends to assess him closely during pre-season.

Signed last summer from Union Saint-Gilloise, Ivanović arrived at the Luz surrounded by high expectations, in a deal that could reach €27.8 million through performance-related bonuses. However, the adaptation did not go as expected, and the forward ended the season with eight goals and only 15 matches as a starter.

The young Croatian international even made a promising start, scoring on his debut against Nice in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. He also made his mark in José Mourinho’s first match in charge of the Eagles, but ended up losing ground over the course of the season and never managed to establish himself in Benfica’s attack.

Although he had been tipped to leave after missing out on Croatia’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, the change of manager could alter the scenario. Marco Silva appears to believe that Ivanović can still make his mark at Benfica and considers that confidence could be decisive in helping the striker show all the potential he displayed before arriving at the Luz.

From the player’s side, there is also a belief that next season could represent a new opportunity to succeed in red and white. Although the market remains attentive to his situation, with interested clubs monitoring his progress, the priority now is to convince Marco Silva and earn a place in Benfica’s squad for 2026/27.

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