Benfica signing stands out from the rest and impresses Marco Silva | OneFootball

Benfica now has one more alternative. Gabriel Índio celebrates his 18th birthday this Sunday and becomes eligible to officially represent the first team, giving the squad another option in central defence at a time when the roster is still undergoing adjustments.

The Brazilian centre-back arrived at the Club of Light in this summer transfer window from Athletic Club of Minas Gerais in a deal worth around €5 million, after Benfica moved ahead of Napoli, who were also closely monitoring the young talent. Considered one of the biggest prospects of his generation, the Brazil youth international has shown promising signs since arriving at Seixal.

Gabriel Índio once again confirmed that potential in the most recent warm-up match against Belenenses, helping Benfica to a 5-1 victory. The centre-back’s performances in training and friendlies have convinced the coaching staff that he could play an important role over the course of the season.

The youngster’s integration comes at a time when Benfica are still looking to strengthen the defensive sector, especially with António Silva’s departure looking increasingly imminent. Even so, Marco Silva likes the characteristics of Gabriel Índio and believes the Brazilian can develop quickly alongside more experienced players.

Now that he has reached adulthood, the final regulatory obstacle to his official use disappears. The young centre-back is therefore available to enter Marco Silva’s plans, giving him another option for a position that is likely to continue undergoing changes in the coming weeks.

Watch Gabriel Índio’s arrival at Benfica:

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