Benfica displeased with Roberto Martínez over remarks seen as slighting António Silva | OneFootball

Benfica are said to be increasingly unhappy with Roberto Martínez after his latest remarks. The Portugal head coach spoke before the World Cup game against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, amid concern over Rúben Dias’s fitness and whether to call up another centre-back.

Martínez said the squad’s versatility could cover centre-back and that bringing in a newcomer lacking international experience or full grasp of the work was not the solution. According to Correio da Manhã, Benfica’s hierarchy viewed this as diminishing António Silva.

Silva has 20 caps and featured across all six World Cup qualifiers, yet he has played only three minutes in a match in September, underlining a reduced role with the national team staff.

The club believes that by emphasising alternative solutions, Martínez signalled a lack of confidence in players already within the group, notably António Silva. The situation comes as relations between Benfica and the coach were already being followed closely by the hierarchy.

This is not the first point of friction. Benfica were also unhappy with Silva’s omission from the final World Cup list and with previous remarks from the coach about disciplinary episodes. The Nations League final four in June 2025 brought further tension when Silva revealed a starting XI, later addressed by the Spanish coach.

Source: Glorioso 1904