Newcastle United have signed Amar Dedic from Benfica for €35m (£30.3m), and the size of that fee has sparked some strong comments in Portugal.
CNN Portugal commentator André Pipa believes Benfica have done extremely well from the deal. He even compared Dedic’s price with fees previously paid for Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes.
“Nobody with any common sense, even the slightest bit of common sense, can criticise this, because it’s an incredible amount for a full-back,” Pipa said.
“I remember Pedro Porro and Nuno Mendes, who are among the best full-backs in the world. One is a world champion and the other is the best full-back in the world. They left here for €40m.
“This one is leaving for €35m without having shown even a tenth of what those two had already shown. So, for me, it’s a great deal.”
Premier League move works for Dedic too
Pipa believes Amar Dedic has plenty to gain from the transfer as well. The Bosnia international only arrived at Benfica last summer. One year later, he’s heading to Newcastle United for considerably more money.
“For Dedic too,” Pipa said. “After one year, he was bought for €10m and Benfica sold him for €35m.
“Benfica are bigger than Newcastle, but the Premier League is much more exciting and challenging than the Portuguese league.”
Pipa also points out that right-back is probably one of the positions where Benfica are best equipped to handle a departure. They still have Alexander Bah and youngster Daniel Banjaqui, although neither comes without a question mark.
“On top of that, and I probably should have started here, it’s a position where Benfica are probably best covered,” he said.
So the bottom line is laid for Newcastle to interpret. They’re paying a fee which has raised eyebrows in Portugal, but Matthias Jaissle knows Dedic well from their time together at Red Bull Salzburg.
Benfica manager Marco Silva has already admitted the club “didn’t want to lose” the defender. Financial considerations ultimately helped make the sale possible.
Pipa thinks Benfica have done extremely well at €35m (£30.3m). Newcastle United will now be hoping Jaissle’s knowledge of Dedic means the Magpies end up feeling just as good about the deal.
