Rui Costa's statements on the squad and the market

STATEMENTS

Before the kick-off of the Benfica-Fulham match, in the Algarve, President Rui Costa spoke to the media, explaining market movements, such as the imminent departure of João Neves and the consequent arrival of Renato Sanches, which are still tied up in details, and guaranteed that the eagles' squad will be subject to further adjustments until the end of the current transfer window.

"ABILITY TO FIGHT ON ALL FRONTS"

"A positive message from a pre-season that is going well and where everything is being prepared so that we have, and we will have with absolute certainty, a squad capable of fighting on all fronts. That's what we're looking for, and in these games we have to get things right so that the season goes the way all Benfica fans want and deserve. That's what we're trying to do at the moment."

"NUMBERS MADE JOÃO NEVES' TRANSFER INEVITABLE"

"Let me start by saying that, if João's [Neves] departure does happen, which is practically done but is still tied up in bureaucratic details to be solved, I understand the criticism, because the fans' bitterness is the same as mine. Seeing a player like João Neves leave doesn't please any member of Benfica, and it pleases me even less as a member and President. I have to build squads and I have to ensure that Benfica is in a position to win titles. When you lose a player of his quality, a home-grown player with Joãozinho's charisma, it's not just Benfica's members who are sad. I'm even sadder because I've known him since he was 10 years old, and it really hurts to see a player like that go. Within this, people have to understand that together we looked for the best solutions for both sides. We postponed this transfer for a long time, we rejected the first offers clearly, but then certain moments and figures are reached which, both for the club and for the player himself, make these transfers inevitable, and people have to understand that. Nobody is pleased with this transfer due to Joãozinho's charisma within the club, but it's not possible for the club to forgo a sum of 70 million euros. As you can imagine, if you pay up to 70 million euros for a player's transfer, you also understand how much you can pay a player in wages. And it's usually difficult for either the club or the player himself to give up those sums. That's what happened. We've always been hand in hand in this situation, and I'm sure João [Neves] will explain that too. It's sad to see the best players or the players we love the most leave, but this is a discussion that has been going on in Portugal for 30 years. We can all admit that Portuguese clubs - it's not just Benfica that's in this situation - can't give up certain sales for management reasons. Everyone accepts that Portugal is a selling country, but when a sale happens it hurts everyone. I'd like to highlight João's [Neves] behavior. Did it go well? I think it's João [Neves] who has to say that, but obviously he couldn't have left badly because no transfer can be made without the agreement or will of both parties. If an offer came in that didn't interest Benfica, Benfica wouldn't make it, and if an offer came to the player and he didn't accept it, he wouldn't leave. It's a discussion that doesn't exist, but João [Neves] will be able to talk about it too. João [Neves]'s behavior was exemplary, as it always is. I repeat what I've already told you: it's regrettable, but it's what we have in Portugal. Portuguese clubs can't and don't have the strength to give up their funds, or to fight the salaries that these financial behemoths are able to offer their players and that we can't even fight at 40%, let alone 100%."

"RENATO SANCHES COMES WITH ALL HIS STRENGTH TO BE A PROTAGONIST"

"I repeat that the transfers haven't been finalized yet, they're still tied up in details. Renato [Sanches] is already here with us, but everything isn't clear yet. It's true that we've lost one of our boys, because Joãozinho will always be one of our boys, but we've recovered another of our boys, and he will certainly be much loved by our fans. He was a player who had a tremendous influence in the year he represented the first team. He was the driving force behind a national champion team. He's coming with all his strength to be a star for Benfica again, and I have no doubt that will happen. I wish Joãozinho all the best, and I'm sure that Renato's [Sanches] arrival will go very well. Regarding the terms of the deal, it's true that we'll have an option to buy, it's true that we won't have a [wage] burden, but I hope to have a burden [number of games played], reasonable for what Benfica is, for Renato [Sanches] in the future. It would be a sign that he's fit to play, and he will be. I will definitely spend money on Renato [Sanches]."

"HOMECOMINGS HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING"

"It's undeniable that the loans of two players the size of Draxler and Bernat didn't work out because of injuries. Renato [Sanches] is also on loan from PSG, although he was at Roma last season. It's a homecoming. I went through that same homecoming, and I think it has a different meaning and brings something to the players that we don't get elsewhere. When I came back, I wouldn't have had the same courage to keep playing and sacrificing every day if it wasn't for my team. And Renato [Sanches] knows perfectly well that he's at home, he knows perfectly well that he's going to receive the affection of all the fans, he knows everything about this house, about the league, and I have absolutely no doubt that he wants to convince himself that he's in a position to be Renato again, whose quality isn't even debatable."

"JOÃO FÉLIX DOESN'T SEEM FEASIBLE TO ME AT ALL"

"I'm not going to speculate on the situation any further. I won't say it's a closed case, because if I had the chance to bring him home, I would. In the same way that I wasn't in a position to hold on to Joãozinho for the sums that PSG presented, and we're talking about a transfer of 70 million euros, I'm also not in a position to pay what João Félix still costs today. I don't think it's feasible at all."

"THERE WILL BE ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES"

"Benfica's market is not closed. There will be departures and arrivals until the end of the market. We still have a month to go until the market closes, which has been very quiet so far, not only in Portugal, but in European terms. That's why transfers are starting to take place now."

"STRONGER SQUAD"

"I feel that this squad is being built in a more consistent, more balanced way and, as a result, is much stronger."