According to a recent report by A Bola (via the Metro), Manchester City are set to battle with their local rivals Manchester United in pursuit of Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis. The same source has also mentioned that the Portuguese starlet recently penned a new deal that would keep him at the Lisbon club until the summer of 2024. The Liga NOS star’s new contract also contains a €120m (£108m) release clause (via the Metro).
Florentino Luis’ Recent Emergence In The Portuguese Top-Flight
The Citizens chose to sign Rodri from Atletico Madrid last summer instead of making an offer for Luis. However, the 20-year-old has proven his doubters wrong by making an impressive start to this campaign. The Lisboa-born prospect has featured in five matches for Benfica this term and has one assist to his name across all competitions.
The Benfica midfielder has also produced some solid defensive displays at the centre of the park as evidenced by his career average of 3.8 tackles, 3.1 interceptions and 1.1 clearances per game (stats via whoscored).
Luis joined the Lisbon giants at a young age from Real Formacao in the summer of 2010. He came through the youth ranks of Benfica before breaking out as a first-team starter earlier this year. At the moment, the Portuguese sensation is playing regularly in Bruno Lage’s starting XI at the Estádio Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
The Liga NOS rising star has also represented Portugal at various youth levels and is currently an integral member of the Portuguese Under-20 side, having made 16 appearances for them thus far.
What Will The Liga Nos Defensive Midfielder Add To Guardiola’s Team?
Luis is a powerhouse in midfield as he can win a lot of 50-50 aerial duels for his team. He is gradually turning out to be a decent defender in midfield due to his ability to make vital interceptions for his side when outnumbered by the opposition on the counter. However, the Portuguese starlet is still quite raw and will need more time to hone his skills before he can become a future star in European football.
Is Luis A Prospect For The Future?
The addition of a player of Luis’s potential will undeniably be a massive coup for the Citizens if they decide to make an offer for him in the coming years. With Fernandinho’s spell at the Etihad Stadium set to come to an end next summer, maybe Luis could come in and play as an understudy to Rodri in Pep Guardiola’s squad. The Portuguese midfield ace has all the skillset required to succeed at the highest level and will be a player to look out for in the future.
