There are some weird things that happen in Portuguese football, which you may not even want to understand.
The latest case involves Wolverhampton Wanderers’ chase for Rio Ave midfielder Pelé, who once belonged to Benfica.
The player still has 50% of his rights belonging to the Lisbon club, agreed in the move he made last summer. It doesn’t mean the Eagles have any decision on his future, since their ownership is purely economical.
However, newspaper O Jogo has a story today saying that it’s actually Benfica, or their president Luis Filipe Vieira, who will decide what Pelé should do in the next summer.
As we’ve been covering in the past few days, Benfica are interested in signing him back by paying around €3m for Rio Ave’s 50% share.
But the fact the Eagles own half of the player is also a good thing for them in case of a Wolves move. Because if the Championship (soon to be Premier League) side are paying €10m for him, it means Benfica get some money with the sale.
Some money that wouldn’t be €5m. Even though the maths seems simple, don’t forget about Wolves’ friend Jorge Mendes. O Jogo makes it clear the agent is getting a part of this deal, and each club should end up with €4m.
Now back to Benfica’s decision, the newspaper says it’s Vieira who will have the last word because of his good relationship with both Rio Ave and Jorge Mendes. So he’s basically choosing between spending €3m or making €4m now.
Regarding Wolves’ offer for Pelé, what O Jogo has to say is that there have been ‘indications’ that the bid may arrive, but things haven’t been put to paper yet.
