Pedro Sousa on Sporting's missed target: he'll be one of the league's best | OneFootball

Pedro Sousa lavished praise on João Palhinha regarding the midfielder’s imminent transfer to Benfica, arguing that the Portuguese international, who was targeted by Sporting, has everything it takes to play a leading role in the league.

The transfer is expected to exceed €41 million, including the €14 million paid to the German club, performance-related bonuses that could add up to five million more, and the wages set out in the four-season contract.

Despite the significant investment, Pedro Sousa had no doubts in predicting Palhinha’s immediate impact on Portuguese football: “He’s going to be one of the best players in the league,” he said on Now, reinforcing his belief that the midfielder will be one of its standout figures.

That view is not unanimous, however. José Manuel Freitas was far more critical of the financial effort required for the deal, calling it “absurd to spend €40 million on a 31-year-old footballer,” although he acknowledged that Palhinha offers guarantees of immediate performance.

Gonçalo Monteiro, meanwhile, focused his analysis on how Benfica will manage the different midfield options and on the need to assess the overall cost of the investments made in the market. Palhinha’s arrival therefore promises to shake up not only the Eagles’ midfield, but also expectations surrounding the team.

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