Benfica want to stop Serie A star signing for Sporting | OneFootball

Benfica have identified Tiago Gabriel as one of the possible reinforcements for the heart of the defence. The Lecce defender, who is also on Sporting’s radar, has attracted strong international interest, with their rivals now among the clubs in the race.

The information was reported in Italy by journalist Nicolò Schira, who says the Eagles are interested in the Portugal Under-21 international. At 21, the defender enjoyed a breakthrough season in Italian football, after leaving Estrela da Amadora in January 2025.

Tiago Gabriel managed to earn his place and established himself as one of the team’s main options, helping the club stay in Serie A. In recent months, Lecce turned down a €20 million offer from Premier League side Brentford. German giants Bayern Munich and Spanish side Barcelona are also keeping an eye on the player.

One of the reasons behind the green-and-white club’s interest in the young centre-back, besides the strong performances he has been putting in, is the fact that the player came through the academy at Sporting, where he was in the youth ranks between 2014 and 2020.

In the 2025/26 season, Tiago Gabriel - valued at €15 million - made 39 official appearances for Lecce: 37 in Serie A and two in the Coppa Italia. In the 3,400 minutes he spent on the pitch, the player scored two goals.

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