Benfica's reputation lies in its knack for enticing major European clubs to splurge on budding talents. The list of successful exports—Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Darwin Nunez, Joao Felix, and Enzo Fernandez—stands testament to this trend.
However, beneath the sheen of triumph, there's a cautionary tale. Some departees, once hailed as prospects, faded after their departure from Estadio Da Luz. This narrative serves as a warning to prospective big club buyers eyeing Benfica's talent pool.
Take Nelson Semedo, for instance, a standout right-back for Benfica in the 2016/17 season. His contributions—two goals and 12 assists in 47 games—were pivotal in As Aguias clinching three titles that year.
Barcelona, in search of a dynamic right-back akin to Dani Alves, eagerly acquired Semedo. However, the Catalan giants soon found themselves disheartened by his performance at Benfica. Despite his youthful promise (at 24 years old), Semedo failed to replicate his success.
Barcelona shelled out around 30 million euros to secure Semedo in the 2017/18 season. Yet, his initial days in the Blaugrana jersey were tumultuous. A preseason clash with Neymar and struggles adapting to La Liga's tempo compounded by the shadow of Dani Alves' legacy took a toll on Semedo.
His output dwindled compared to his Benfica days—only managing 2 assists in 36 games in his debut season. Eventually, Semedo departed Barcelona ahead of the 2020/21 season, opting for a move to the Premier League's modest side, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Enter Lazar Markovic, the Serbian dynamo lighting up Benfica's 2013/14 season. At a mere 20 years old, his 7 goals and 5 assists in 46 games helped As Aguias secure multiple titles that year.
Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers' helm, sought reinforcements for their frontline post-Luis Suarez's departure. Markovic beckoned to Anfield, the Reds splurging £20 million in the 2014/15 season to secure his talents.
However, Markovic's debut in the Liverpool shirt was marred by misfortune—a serious tendon injury sidelining him for preseason and wreaking havoc on his physical form. His return saw a shadow of his former self, struggling to fit into Rodgers' core lineup and failing to leave a lasting impact when given opportunities.
Statistics tell the tale: a mere 34 appearances across competitions in his debut season, with a meager return of 3 goals and 1 assist. His stint at Anfield was short-lived, leading to a loan spell in the 2015/16 season at Fenerbahce in the Turkish League.
Now, shift focus to Renato Sanches, the Portuguese prodigy dazzling in Benfica's 2015/16 campaign. With 6 goals and 1 assist in 47 appearances, his prowess caught Bayern Munich's eye, shelling out a hefty €35 million in 2016 to acquire his services.
Amidst high hopes, Sanches found his debut season at Bayern to be a struggle—starting just 9 times and failing to find the net or provide assists. The Portuguese midfielder openly admitted to The Sun the challenges he faced adapting to the Bundesliga.
Ancelotti's tactical setup posed further hurdles, prompting Munich legend Lothar Matthaus to dub Sanches' acquisition a failed venture. Ultimately, the 2017/18 season saw Sanches loaned out to Swansea, closing a chapter on his Bayern stint.
Enter Fabio Coentrao, the spirited Portuguese left-back who ruled Benfica's 2010/11 season under Jorge Jesus. His tally of 5 goals and 6 assists across 45 games showcased his potential as a bright talent.
Real Madrid, helmed by Jose Mourinho, eagerly sought Coentrao's services, breaking the bank with a €30 million acquisition in the 2011/12 season. However, Coentrao faced a tough challenge vying for a spot against the iconic Marcelo, already a stalwart in the left-back role for Los Blancos. This meant Coentrao had to bide his time, sharing duties with Marcelo during his initial season.
Marcelo's entrenched position thwarted Coentrao's chances of securing a permanent role, a fact even acknowledged by the player himself. With managerial shifts from Mourinho to Ancelotti and Zidane, Coentrao found himself mostly warming the bench, the pinnacle being Zidane's unequivocal statement that the left-back position unequivocally belonged to Marcelo. Coentrao's game time dwindled to a mere 9 appearances, leading to a loan spell in the 2015/16 season at AS Monaco.
Shifting focus, meet Nico Gaitan, Benfica's Argentine maestro shining brightly in the 2015/16 season with 11 goals and 20 assists in 37 games. His brilliance caught the eye of Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone, urging immediate acquisition.
Despite Atletico's €25 million investment in Gaitan, his debut season fell short of Simeone's lofty expectations, netting only 4 goals in 36 games. Gaitan openly admitted his struggles adapting to La Liga's dynamics and Simeone's pragmatic style, prompting understanding from the manager, who believed in Gaitan's need for further adaptation.
The subsequent 2017/18 season was meant to be Gaitan's redemption arc, yet it never materialized. Limited to a mere 13 appearances and no goal contributions, Atletico promptly offloaded him mid-season to Chinese outfit Dalian Yifang.
Introducing Goncalo Guedes, the 20-year-old wing wizard from Benfica hailed as Portugal's future attacking sensation. His electric displays in the 2016/17 season—7 goals and 7 assists in 27 games—marked him as a standout talent from As Aguias, setting the stage for a promising career.
According to the official Ligue 1 website, PSG's President Nasser Al-Khelaifi swiftly recognized Guedes's potential, initiating discussions with coach Unai Emery. The outcome was immediate: Guedes, without hesitation, made the move to Paris in January 2017, commanding a hefty €30 million transfer fee.
However, transitioning into a star-studded squad like PSG proved daunting for Guedes. The presence of established attacking wingers like Draxler, Lucas Moura, and Angel Di Maria presented formidable competition, making his path to prominence challenging.
Guedes endured a subdued start at PSG, featuring in just 11 matches and providing a solitary assist in his initial half-season. Instead of receiving a second chance, he found himself loaned out at the onset of the 2017/18 season, heading to Valencia in search of regular playing time.
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