Benfica won the race to sign the next big Argentinean thing! Enzo Fernandez will move from River Plate to Estadio Da Luz for a fee of around $10 million, with another $8 million in add-ons. The 21-year-old promising star will remain with his current club in Argentina until the end of their Copa Libertadores campaign, the continental competition Fernandez has dreamt of winning ever since he was a little boy.🚨 CONFIRMED | SL Benfica and River Plate have agreed a deal for Enzo Fernandéz.One of South America’s top young talents is coming to Portugal. pic.twitter.com/WQY5u3sVl9— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) June 23, 2022 River will play the first leg of their Libertadores last 16 tie with Velez Sarsfield at the end of the month, with the return fixture taking place on July 7. The Argentine club are expected to go deep into a competition they have won four times – most recently in 2018.Speaking to Ole recently, Enzo admitted that playing in Europe is his ambition but that he’d like to remain in Argentina and try to bring further glory to River Plate.”Playing in Europe is a goal, but I’m not in a hurry. I’m enjoying the day-to-day at River. I’m very happy because this is something I’ve always dreamed of it. I dream of winning the Libertadores with River, and playing in a World Cup, which I think would be the maximum, and winning it would be a privilege. Playing in Europe comes next.”Saturday, 00.55: (2.45) Rosario (3.10) Gimnasia LP (3.10)Although Wolverhampton Wanderers and AC Milan were also interested in the youngster, Benfica did their work the quickest and ensured the purchase of 75 per cent of Fernandez’s contract. That means that, even though he will play for the Eagles, only 75 per cent of the next transfer fee will end up in Benfica’s account. Still, that’s not too much of a problem for the Lisbon club because they often do similar deals and still manage to turn a healthy profit.🇦🇷 Enzo Fernandez joining Benfica is a brilliant coup from the Portuguese club. Definitely going to be one of the next BIG money moves in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/h66XbsLolc— 10 (@basseyball) June 22, 2022 Just like Manchester City secured the signature of Enzo’s teammate Julian Alvarez and left him to play for River for another six months, Benfica will allow their recruit to attend to the unfinished business in South America’s most reputable club competition.
