Manchester United may not be leading the race for Richard Ríos just yet, but Benfica are now openly preparing the ground for a possible sale – and that changes the picture around the Colombian midfielder.
For weeks, the message coming out of Portugal had been relatively firm. Benfica did not want to sell cheaply, the player was happy in Lisbon, and the club viewed the 2026 World Cup as a major opportunity to inflate his value further.
That stance has not disappeared completely. However, a fresh report from A Bola suggests reality may now be catching up with ambition.
Benfica need money – and Ríos is one of the obvious candidates
The Portuguese side are preparing for a summer rebuild after a disappointing season. There is a real possibility they will miss out on Champions League football, which would create a significant financial hit.
Because of that, Benfica’s board are now considering sales they would ideally have preferred to avoid.
According to A Bola, Richard Ríos is one of the main names being discussed internally as a possible major exit. Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis are also mentioned, but the Colombian midfielder is described as the leading candidate in midfield.
That is a noticeable shift in tone compared to earlier reports. Because previously, Benfica were described as only willing to listen to “irresistible” proposals. Now the language is softer. The report states the club would be willing to analyse offers above €30m (£26m).
That is still a substantial fee of course. But it is also a long way from the €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract.
Manchester United interest still there
Manchester United are again named among the English clubs keeping an eye on the situation.
The report does not go as far as claiming formal negotiations or bids. However, the Premier League side continue to appear consistently in Portuguese reporting around the player.
Napoli are described as particularly attentive, while clubs in England are also monitoring developments.
But for United, the interest still makes logical sense. Since the start of 2025, Richard Ríos has played 90 matches for club and country. That workload alone says a lot about his physical durability.
Also, his production has also improved this season. The 25-year-old has already recorded six goals and six assists, making this the most productive campaign of his career so far.
If Michael Carrick’s side is looking towards a midfield revamp, he surely could be one of the names in strong contention for a spot in the squad.
Benfica balancing valuation and urgency
The interesting part here is the contradiction Benfica are now trying to manage.
On one side, they still believe the World Cup could increase Richard Ríos’ market value significantly. The Colombian is expected to be part of his national team’s plans in 2026, and Benfica know a strong tournament could push his price much higher.
On the other side, they may not be in a financial position to wait comfortably.
A Bola repeatedly frames the club’s summer strategy around the need for liquidity before reinvesting in the squad. That explains why the tone around Ríos has become more flexible.
So while Benfica are not exactly placing a “for sale” sign on the midfielder, there is now a much clearer sense that they are ‘open to offers’ – especially if Premier League clubs decide to move seriously.
