Benfica controversy: Rui Costa responds to João Félix’s comments | OneFootball

Rui Costa wasted no time in responding to João Félix's statements. On the afternoon of Friday, November 28, the President of Benfica made some comments after learning that the Portuguese international blamed the Clube da Luz for not having the desire to close the deal that would allow him to return to Portugal.

"I am very sorry that João said such a thing. Even for his sake", began Rui Costa, words quoted by the newspaper A Bola, at a time when the leader of the reds accompanies the Benfica delegation, which is preparing to embark for Funchal, to face Nacional.

"If it depended on Benfica's will... what Benfica put on the table to bring him to Lisbon, he would have been at Benfica for three years. It wouldn't be this summer, it would have been three years ago. I don't want to elaborate much on this aspect because I will always respect João greatly", added Rui Costa.

"He will have to say what it means for him for a team or a club to do everything — or not do everything — to bring a player home. In these three years, Chelsea, Barcelona, Milan, and now Saudi Arabia wanted him more than Benfica did", stated the President of the reds, in response to João Félix's words.

"We spoke with him, as is evident. Presidents don't have to talk to players or acquisitions every day. Benfica's structure did everything, with João [Félix] and his agent [Jorge Mendes], to bring João to Benfica", concluded Rui Costa, in statements to journalists.

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