They are not stingy, but Benfica are far from spending money like the biggest European clubs. Scout well and sell even better is the mantra that the Lisbon giants have followed for years, but this summer they decided to break the bank for Orkun Kökçü. If we also take into account the percentages that it later had to pass on to the account of River Plate and Almeria after the sale of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea and Darwin Núñez to Liverpool, the club from Da Luz invested more money in the aforementioned two, but never spent as much for one player as they did last summer for the Turkish international.Benfica cashed out €25,000,000 to Feyenoord in mid-June, making the 23-year-old midfielder the most expensive signing in the club’s history. They also entrusted him with the no.10 shirt, which was temporarily withdrawn a season earlier in honor of the deceased Fernando Chalana, a club legend. However, the Eagles did not entrust him with the role, which is usually played by players with the mentioned number on the back of the jersey, so even though the numbers do not indicate that his transfer was a failure, Kokcu himself is not satisfied with how things have been going at Da Luz since he arrived, so much so that we shouldn’t be surprised if he decides to change his surroundings soon.##NAJAVA_MECA_7959116##The day before the visit of Casa Pia, the Turkish footballer shook Da Luz with an interview for the Dutch Telegraph in which he spoke about the impossibility of expressing his qualities in the Lisbon club, for which he mostly blames the team’s coach Roger Schmidt.”Last summer a lot happened in the market, I consciously chose Benfica with the idea that this was the best step for the development of my career. But it only partially came true. Of course, I saw how other players from Portugal and other big clubs were in the center of attention. It creates a certain status, but I never felt important, from the very beginning. Not even by the coach!”, said Kokcu directly.##EDITORS_CHOICE##The Turk is primarily dissatisfied with his position on the field, that is, with Schmidt’s decision to “suffocate” his offensive characteristics with a much more defensive role than the one he had in Feyenoord.”I’m not a guy who bangs his fist on the table or makes demands, but maybe I was too lenient about the role I was given. Roger Schmidt told me that I would have a role similar to the one at Feyenoord, where I controlled the flow of the ball, where I could always to move forward… and that’s not happening.”Despite being far from the goal, Kokcu scored three goals and registered ten assists in all competitions this season, but he believes he can do much better…”I’m the type of footballer who contributes the most to the team if you give me freedom. Schmidt entrusts me with all kinds of tasks, and that’s not necessary if you really want to use my qualities. I find solutions on the field myself, I think ahead and I’m known for my ‘progressive’ passing. Even this season, all my stats confirm that. I can do a lot more for Benfica and that’s maybe part of my frustration.”Orkun Kokcu: “I chose Benfica thinking that it was the best option for my career, but from the beginning, they never made me feel important.””Maybe I’ve been too modest so far regarding the role I was given.” [@telegraaf]#TheGoalpostNews #SLB #Benfica #Transfers #TransferNews pic.twitter.com/mOmEis6dR2— The Goalpost (@TGoalpost) March 16, 2024 He saw it best in the debacle against Porto, in a game in which he was replaced at halftime by Schmidt’s decision.”I was angry and disappointed because of that. It is in those moments that I understand best that I can do much more for the team. I think that in recent seasons I have shown how much I am worth to the team if they use me in the right way,” concluded Kokcu.The contentious interview was also the topic of the conference before today’s match with Casa Pia, which the Benfica coach briefly commented on.”I heard, but I haven’t read it yet. I will do it later. I will talk about it with Kokcu and then I will make a decision,” said the German expert.
