Benfica started a strong competition to sign the promising Brazilian defender Gabriel Índio, who plays for Athletic-MG, a club in the second division of the Brazilian Championship. The player, who was already in advanced negotiations with Napoli, now finds himself at the center of fierce competition between European clubs.
Information obtained by ESPN indicates that the Portuguese team now has a significant advantage in negotiating for the young talent. This is because the Italian club would have interrupted the progress of conversations in recent days, opening space for the Lisbon team to attack.
Previously, Napoli was willing to pay approximately 4 million euros, a value that at the current exchange rate of the Brazilian real corresponds to around 27 million reais, to ensure Índio’s arrival in the squad. The proposal reflected the interest in his promise on the football scene.
As he approaches his 18th birthday, Gabriel Índio is seen by Benfica as a strategic acquisition, representing both the present and the future of the defense. The expectation is that he will be integrated directly into the main cast.
This movement is part of a new cycle at the club, which is now under the command of coach Marco Silva, formerly of Fulham. Silva’s arrival follows the departure of José Mourinho, who recently took over as director of Real Madrid, indicating a possible reorientation in Benfica’s signing policy, with a focus on young talents for the first team.