Otamendi renews until 2026

RENEWAL

Sport Lisboa e Benfica and center back Nicolás Otamendi have agreed to a one-season contract renewal. The new contract for the Eagles' team captain is valid until June 2026.

After joining Benfica in 2020/21 from Manchester City, Otamendi made his debut for the club on October 4, 2020, in a match from matchday 3 of the National Championship. At Estádio da Luz, the opponent was Farense, and the center back started in the 3-2 victory for the reds.

A few days later, he played his first European match for Benfica (October 22, 2020). In a Europa League match, the Eagles traveled to Poland to face Lech Poznan (2-4) in round 1 first of Group D. Starting the game, Otamendi wore the Sport Lisboa e Benfica captain's armband for the first time in the second half of that match.

During the 2020/21 season – which totaled 38 games – the Argentine international also made his scoring debut. At the Cathedral, he scored the first of 15 goals for the Eagles – to date – in a 2-0 win over Famalicão on matchday 18 of the League.

The following season (2021/22), in which he played in 43 matches, he made his debut for the Reds in the Champions League group stage, in a match against Dynamo Kyiv on matchday 1.

Always making history for the Glorioso, Otamendi reached 50 games that season (2021/22) against Portimonense (MD 8 of the Championship); he reached 100 in 2022/23 against Chaves (MD 11 of the League), in a season in which he played in 46 matches and which culminated in the celebration of SLB's 38th national championship title; and his 150th match took place in Braga, on matchday 14 of the 2023/24 League (the captain played in 51 matches, counting all competitions).

SC Braga, also at Estádio da Luz, was the opponent that marked another milestone for Otamendi, this time his 200th game, on matchday 17 of the 2024/25 Championship, a season in which the Argentine world champion has, as of June 27, played in 53 games: 31 in the National Championship, 12 in the Champions League, 4 in the Portuguese Cup, 3 in the League Cup – a competition in which he lifted the trophy for the Eagles' eighth victory in that competition – and 3 in the Club World Cup.

The 2024/25 League Cup was his third title with Benfica, joining the National Championship won in 2022/23 and the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup celebrated in 2023/24.

With 8 goals this season, the No. 30 jersey is enjoying the most prolific season of his career.

All in all, Otamendi has played 231 matches for Benfica to date: 148 in the National Championship, 36 in the Champions League, 16 in the Portuguese Cup, 12 in the Europa League, 8 in the Champions League qualifying rounds, 6 in the League Cup, 2 in the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup, and 3 in the Club World Cup.