Portuguese armada finish quality series

The work begun years ago, with the paradigm shift in the first football team and a clear bet in the academy, is bearing fruits. On Sunday, under Rui Vitória, Benfica finished the match against Nacional with seven Portuguese players on the pitch.

Four of those athletes – Rúben Dias (21 years), Gedson (19), Alfa Semedo (21) and João Félix (18) – went through the demanding sieve of Caixa Futebol Campus, in Seixal. André Almeida, Pizzi and Rafa completed the batch of players that were on the pitch when the referee Fábio Veríssimo blew the final whistle at the Estádio da Madeira, in a match from gameweek 4 of the Liga NOS.

The work results from a forward-looking approach, with Benfica being present in the top 5 of youngest squads, according to the platform Wyscout, in the four rounds of the  2018/19 Liga NOS: an average of 25,3 years.

However, it is not just at the Club where the youth nurtured at Caixa Futebol Campus rules and stands out. The call-up made by Fernando Santos for Portugal's matches against Croatia and Italy has three eagles among the players named – Rúben Dias, Pizzi and Gedson –, turning Benfica into the most represented emblem.

To these three are added the presences of Yuri Ribeiro and João Félix in the U-21's.

Text: Marco Rebelo

Pics: Hélder Santos