On verge of joining Benfica, Marco Silva to work with player he fell for | OneFootball

Andreas Schjelderup is getting ready to begin a new chapter at Benfica under Marco Silva. The Norwegian international, who came very close to leaving the Luz in January, ultimately stayed in the squad and became one of the standout figures of the second half of the season.

The new Benfica coach is well aware of the 22-year-old winger’s qualities. Even before the player’s turnaround, Marco Silva had reportedly sought information on the conditions of a possible signing. At the time, Schjelderup was on the list of potential departures and even came close to moving to Club Brugge.

However, the scenario changed completely after a string of high-level performances. The Norwegian registered eight goals and four assists in the closing stretch of the season. His strong displays also earned him a place in Norway’s squad for the World Cup.

"[Mourinho] turned me into a stronger and more mature player. He helped me take a big step forward, both offensively and defensively, and gain more power so that I can last the full 90 minutes", the Benfica 'number 21' recently told the Norwegian newspaper 'VG'.

It should be noted that Benfica began setting a minimum fee of €40 million for any potential transfer, a figure significantly higher than the €25 million it was willing to accept in January. Now, Marco Silva should find a more complete, established player, ready to take on a bigger role.

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