Rafa Silva surprises Benfica fans with unexpected sport (video) | OneFootball

Rafa Silva is still enjoying the final days of his holiday before the start of Benfica’s pre-season. The Benfica forward recently shared some images on social media, where he was seen playing golf, taking a break before returning to work under Marco Silva.

Although it is not possible to assess the player’s level of skill in the sport, the video released shows a shot taken with confidence and determination, in a display of relaxation before the start of a season that promises to be demanding.

At 33, Rafa Silva is preparing to begin his first full pre-season since returning to Benfica, a move completed in January after a season-and-a-half spell at Besiktas. The forward is now entering an important stage of his career, looking to cement the place he earned in the second half of last season and convince Marco Silva that he deserves a prominent role in the team.

During his time at Fulham, Marco Silva mostly favored a 4-2-3-1 system, a setup that values the presence of an attacking midfielder operating behind the striker. In that context, Rafa Silva emerges as one of the main candidates to take on that role, in direct competition with Sudakov, although there are other options in the squad capable of performing the same function.

His experience, movement between the lines, and attacking creativity could work in the Portuguese international’s favor in the battle for a starting spot. After returning to Benfica, Rafa Silva quickly earned a place in José Mourinho’s plans and became a regular presence in the starting eleven during the second half of the season.

Signed from Besiktas for around five million euros, the player took on an important role in the team’s attacking play and finished the season as one of the solutions most frequently used by the Special One. That path could allow him to begin with some credit with the new coaching staff, although the final decision will depend on the performances he delivers during pre-season and his adaptation to Marco Silva’s demands.

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