When Benfica, Porto or Sporting are playing in the Portuguese league, two things are almost certain: at least five or six clubs will be scouting the game, and Manchester United will be one of them.
But only one of them is right this time, which is the Red Devils’ presence at Benfica’s away game against Nacional this Sunday.
Strangely, the local newspapers only report that two clubs had emissaries travelling to Madeira this weekend. Besides United, only Bayern Munich, who will be playing the Eagles for the Champions League group stage, were there too.
So it sounds like José Mourinho’s side was the only one looking for players to sign, and the game’s result was pretty much the expected. Benfica thrashed Nacional 4-0, with a good overall performance.
There’s only one Benfica starter who has recently been linked to Man United, and that’s Gedson Fernandes. The 19-year-old, who made his debut this season, was crucial for the Eagles to recover balls in midfield and start attacking plays.
But it now won’t be easy for the Red Devils to get the teenager, because he’s just signed a new contract and increased his release clause to €120m.
Youngster João Félix, who’s also being followed by Mourinho, was brought on after 80 minutes. But with such a short time left and a 3-0 score, there wasn’t much for him to do to impress. Alex Grimaldo, Pizzi, Eduardo Salvio and Haris Seferovic were the other players who excelled for the Eagles.
With United being the only ones to make such a long trip for some future shopping, it seems that Mourinho wants the best reports about the targets he has an eye on, no matter how far away they’re playing.
