Joao Felix has become by far Benfica s biggest ever sale after completing a €126million move to Atletico Madrid, continuing the Portuguese champions strong record of raking in massive transfer fees.
What makes the 19-year-old attacking midfielder s move even more remarkable is the fact he has spent just one full season in the first team.
It was certainly a successful campaign, however, as the teenager scored 15 goals and set up another seven in 26 league appearances, earning his first senior Portugal cap in the Nations League Finals.
A fine dribbler, good finisher and blessed with outstanding technical ability, Joao Felix has huge expectations to match at Atletico, given he is likely to be Antoine Griezmann s replacement.
Benfica will be delighted to receive such a hefty fee, as they have done for a host of other stars in the past, including these six…
Ederson €40m (Manchester City)
Like Joao Felix, Ederson only played one full season in Benfica s starting XI before earning a move away. Nevertheless, he has settled in seamlessly at Manchester City with his combination of world-class shot-stopping and passing ability, winning back-to-back Premier League titles and establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
What a season had in the
Appearances:
Clean sheets:
Passes:
Assists:
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
Axel Witsel €40m (Zenit)
Tipped for big things early in his career, Benfica snapped Witsel up from Standard Liege in 2011 and sold him on a year later, with Zenit – not one of the traditional European heavyweights he was linked with – making the move. He spent five years in Russia, then a season in China, before joining Borussia Dortmund last year. The 30-year-old enjoyed a strong first term in Germany.
Congratulations to Axel Witsel, who was named to the 2018/2019 European Team of the Season!
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)
Raul Jimenez €38m (Wolves)
Jimenez s adaptation to Europe after leaving Mexico s Club America was difficult and he made little impact at Atletico. Benfica brought him to Portugal after a year and are reported to have eventually paid €22m for him. Despite a modest scoring record, the Aguias are said to have received €38m for him from Wolves in April after a strong debut season on loan in England.
— Wolves (@Wolves)
Nelson Semedo €35m (Barcelona)
An attack-minded right-back, Semedo was identified as the potential solution to Barcelona s post-Dani Alves full-back issue in 2017 and they paid Benfica a reported €35m fee. He is yet to truly establish himself in the starting XI, though signs at the end of the 2018-19 season suggested he was beginning to win the battle with Sergi Roberto for the right-back spot.
Nélson Semedo
Força Barça!
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Victor Lindelof €35m (Manchester United)
Five years at Benfica – split between the first team and reserves – saw Lindelof develop into one of Europe s most highly rated young centre-backs, as he mixed technical ability with uncompromising defending. After months of speculation, United completed a deal in 2017. After a difficult first season Lindelof was linked with an exit, but he stayed and was one of few to impress at Old Trafford in 2018-19.
When the opportunity came to sign for it was a very easy decision. Victor Lindelof
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
Renato Sanches €35m (Bayern Munich)
Sanches broke into Benfica s starting XI as a teenager and impressed with his explosive style in midfield, earning himself a call-up to the Portugal squad, whom he helped to Euro 2016 success. His subsequent big-money move to Bayern has not worked out, however, while he also struggled on loan at Swansea City. A move away in the next couple of months is a real possibility.
