Leonino
·10 de julho de 2026
Palhinha wanted by Sporting, but closer to signing… for Benfica

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Yahoo sportsLeonino
·10 de julho de 2026

The name of João Palhinha has once again heated up the transfer market and is generating great excitement among Sporting fans. After several rumors pointed to a possible return to Alvalade, a new major contender has now emerged: Benfica, who are closely monitoring the situation of the Portuguese international.
. The Benfica coach likes the former Sporting player’s qualities, and his name is on the list of options being considered to strengthen the squad. It is worth remembering that the two worked together at Fulham.
The defensive midfielder’s contractual situation is helping to fuel the speculation. After a season at Tottenham, on loan from Bayern Munich, Palhinha is not expected to remain in London. At the same time, he is also not part of the German club’s plans for next season, a scenario that opens the door to another move this summer.
On Sporting’s side, the interest has not disappeared entirely. The Lions even looked into the possibility of bringing the player back to Alvalade, but the signing of Sergi Altimira caused the process to lose momentum. Even so, Sporting’s officials have reportedly not definitively crossed Palhinha’s name off their list of future options.
. Between Marco Silva’s admiration, Benfica’s interest, and the emotional connection he still has with Sporting, the coming days could be decisive in determining what the next chapter will be in the career of one of the most respected midfielders in Portuguese football.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.







































