On a night when the result grabbed the Europa League headlines in Lisbon, one Benfica star certainly caught the attention of Rangers in Joao Neves.
The teenage midfielder, 19, put in a splendid midfield performance against an increasingly leggy Rangers side with a calm, composed, competitive edge of someone many years his senior.
The latest breakthrough star from Benfica’s famed Benfica Campus, Rangers fans got a glimpse into why the likes of Manchester United are reportedly watching.
Fabrizio Romano claimed on his Daily Briefing only the day before Rangers faced Benfica that both Manchester United and Manchester City are watching the kid, who has a €120m (£103m) release clause.
“The race remains open for Benfica wonderkid Joao Neves,” said Romano. “Who has been scouted by the Red Devils, and also by Manchester City.”
Joao Neves continues Benfica tradition
In a superb performance full of tigerish midfielder play, neat touches, nutmegs, and composed football, Joao Neves would’ve caught the eye of anyone watching Rangers’ 2-2 draw with Benfica.
Having already earned three caps for the Portuguese national team, it’s clear the kid is earmarked as one for the future and Benfica will do well to hold on to him.
Not that the Portuguese giants have had any issue with letting their top talent go in recent seasons.
Benfica have raked in north of €1bn (£850m) in transfer fees since the turn of the century and are one of football’s greatest examples of player trading done right.
Utilising South American markets have combined with the club’s wonderful Academy set up to contribute to the astonishing incomings which can serve as a real example to Rangers.
Rangers must aspire to £850m heights
With that list of outgoings topped by the likes of Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Ruben Dias (Man City), and Renato Sanches (Bayern), the list really does feel endless.
The club have produced a genuinely solid system of identifying, developing and then selling their top players and now Joao Neves looks set to follow suit.
One that got away – Rangers loanee Fabio Silva – instead raked in a veritable fortune for Liga Portugal rivals FC Porto.
There might be a sense of envy at Ibrox regarding how Benfica have managed to do this in recent seasons, with the Portuguese side certainly a model we can aspire to.
Heading into the game, Rangers manager Philippe Clement spoke openly about the disparity in transfer budgets between the two clubs with Benfica spending around £120m more on their Europa League squad.
