Pedro Sousa on Benfica target: second-best Portuguese centre-back | OneFootball

Benfica’s interest in Tiago Gabriel continues to spark debate, but the deal is unlikely to move forward due to the figures demanded by Lecce. The 21-year-old Portuguese centre-back enjoyed a breakthrough season in Serie A and has been attracting attention, although the transfer fee is seen as a significant obstacle.

During the Mercado NOW program, Pedro Sousa highlighted the quality of the Portugal under-21 international, even stating that Tiago Gabriel is, in his view, “probably, after Rúben Dias, the best Portuguese centre-back at the moment.” The commentator also expressed surprise that the player had not been called up to the senior national team, but noted that the Italians are looking to make around €20 million.

In addition to Tiago Gabriel, Benfica continue to assess other options for the heart of the defence. According to José Nunes, the strategy is to sign two centre-backs with different profiles. Names such as Jorge Cuenca and Stefan de Vrij fit into that plan outlined by the structure led by Rui Costa.

Gonçalo Monteiro, meanwhile, warned about the challenges that a possible move could represent for the player. The commentator pointed out that Lecce are a team used to fighting to stay up and defending closer to their own goal, a very different context from the one he would find at the Luz.

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