And this one? André Villas-Boas tried to poach Benfica duo | OneFootball

The women’s football market in Portugal continues to stir, with several clubs keeping an eye on reinforcement opportunities for the new season. Porto, led by André Villas-Boas, even showed interest in two players with a recent Benfica past.

Porto were reportedly monitoring the situations of Carole Costa and Cristina Martín-Prieto, both on the Dragons’ radar for their Liga BPI debut, although that interest never turned into any concrete move. The blue-and-white structure assessed the possibility of strengthening the squad with big names after promotion to the top division.

However, the high wages demanded by the two internationals ultimately hindered any potential negotiations. Carole Costa, 36, with 191 caps, and Martín-Prieto, who scored three goals in nine games for Benfica last season, quickly saw their futures heading in other directions.

The financial demands put the brakes on Porto’s approach, leading those in charge to back away from the idea of signing the duo for Daniel Chaves’ side. The investment required was above what had been planned for this stage of the Dragons’ women’s project.

So, despite the initial interest in keeping the players in Portuguese football, everything indicates that the next step for the two internationals will be abroad. Saudi Arabia, as they leave Benfica after their respective contracts came to an end.

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