Newcastle United face battle to sign 19-year-old – Manager believes sale would be ‘mistake’

Earlier this week, Portuguese newspaper Record mentioned Newcastle United’s interest in Benfica defender Antonio Silva.

That story claimed the Magpies have been ‘closely observing’ the centre-back’s potential with the Eagles, having him on a list of ‘potential reinforcements’ for the summer.

There’s no doubt Benfica can make big money by selling the 19-year-old in the next transfer window, because besides Newcastle, Real Madrid have also been linked to him.

However, as written by the newspaper today, manager Roger Schmidt wants the player for at least one more season.

According to Record, the coach believes it’d be a ‘mistake’ to let him go now, as he could get more experience in Portugal before going somewhere else.

The newspaper claims the player doesn’t see a move as an ‘obsession’ either, as he ‘feels well’ at the club and is ‘not focused’ on leaving.

Record never said how much Newcastle or Real Madrid would like to pay for him. What they do write today is that the player is protected by a €100m release clause, and only if a club shows up with that amount, then Benfica will be ‘obliged’ to sell.