From packed bags to options: Marco Silva changes two Benfica fates | OneFootball

Benfica’s squad for 2026/27 is not yet finalized, but Enzo Barrenechea and Gianluca Prestianni are two cases that have undergone a significant change in circumstances since Marco Silva’s arrival. The Argentine duo were initially expected to leave during this summer transfer window, but the opportunities given by the new coach and their performances on the pitch ended up changing the plans of the Benfica hierarchy.

In Enzo’s case, the delay in signing a new defensive midfielder opened a window of opportunity that the Argentine knew how to seize. João Palhinha is the top target for the position, but Bayern Munich’s financial demands have made the deal difficult. Faced with a lack of alternatives in the current squad, Marco Silva has been relying on the player who arrived a year ago on loan from Aston Villa.

The progress was clear after the clash with St. Gallen. Enzo started on the bench in the first leg, but earned a starting spot in the next match and kept his place against Hearts and Académico de Viseu. Marco Silva did not hide his satisfaction with the Argentine’s development. “Enzo (Barrenechea) is a player who has been growing, but he is also a player with some very specific characteristics physically. We want to give him more and more minutes,” he said.

Gianluca Prestianni also managed to turn things around. The Argentine winger was once very close to Trabzonspor, in a deal that could have been worth around €20 million, but the suspension that kept him out of the matches against St. Gallen did not stop him from convincing the coach in training. With Andreas Schjelderup absent after taking part in the World Cup, the youngster seized his chance as soon as he became available and started against Hearts, scoring a goal.

The confidence remained after the draw with Académico de Viseu, in which the Argentine once again stood out. “Prestianni played another outstanding game, creating in so many different ways down the flank, taking the game to the opponent, combining well too, waiting for the right moments for Dahl to arrive, whether Dahl or Sudakov. Prestianni never stopped creating [after Schjelderup came on and occupied the left flank], even on the right he kept creating and then, when he moved inside, into a more central area, he also kept creating,” the coach explained.

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