Braga have made their first signing for the 2013/14 season, picking up Academica striker Edinho on a 2 year contract. The 30 year old scored 18 goals in all competitions this season and returns to a team he played for from the 2004 to 2007 seasons. The Portuguese forward has made five appearances for the National side and joins a host of Portuguese National players on the Braga squad.
Portugal get set to continue their qualifying campaign for World Cup 2014 in Brazil and play Isreal on the road March 22 in a battle for second spot in the group, then return home to face Azerbaijan on the 26th. Paulo Bento has announced the following players will be part of the squad for the next round of games.
Sporting are set to launch their own TV channel following in the foot steps of Lisbon rival Benfica. Sporting's new TV channel should be on the air in August 2013, just in time for the start of the new season in Portugal. Sporting was looking to launch on its club anniversary date of June 1 but the launch was not able to be obtained by then.
Benfica striker Lima is pondering a call up by the Portuguese National squad, the 29 year old Brazilian is a dual citizen and has been applying his trade in Portugalsince 2003. The striker who moved to Benfica from Braga this season andhas chipped in8 goals in all competitions this season for the Eagles after scoring 28 last season for Braga.
French club Marseille is lookingat submitting a proposal to Benfica for midfielderBruno Cesar come January. Benfica's price tag on the sale of the Brazilian is $15 million euros and it is said that the French side is more inclined to borrow the player then purchase him.The 24 year old has seen his playing time diminish in his second season with the Eagles and has only started in two
Liverpool have turned their attention to Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo as a possible replacement up front, if Luis Suarez is sold by the northern English club. Cardozo already has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season andis signed with Benfica until the summer of 2014.
Sporting are said to be in talks with Sevilla for former Maritimo striker Baba.Baba who applied his trade with the Madeira club for 4 and a half seasons, is not getting the minutes he would like at the Spanish club, who are disappointed in the Senegal player's performance this season. Sporting are keen to add to their attack after a dismal start to the season, some sources say that
Paulo Bento has named his squad for the upcoming friendly against Gabon on November 14/12. The national team coach will be looking at a new set of wingers for the encounter as both Nani and Ronaldo are sidelined for the encounter.Portugal roster:Rui Patricio (Sporting)Beto (Braga)Eduardo (Istanbul BB)Silvio(Atletico Madrid)Pepe (Real Madrid)Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid)Bruno Alves (Zenit)
Porto's James Rodriguez has caught the eye of Manchester United coach Alex Fergusen. Fergusen is determined to bring Rodriguez to United when the transfer window opens again in January and feels that Rodriguez would be the ideal replacement for Nani and to convince Porto to let Rodriguez go, Fergusen is offering Mexican Chicharito to any deal for the Porto star.
The P.F.A have announced the Player of the Month in the Portuguese League for the months of August/September and have named Porto's James Rodriguez to receive the award. Rodriguez edged out Benfica players Salvio and Lima for the first monthly award of the season.
Paulo Bento has named his squad for the upcoming qualifiers for World Cup 2014, Portugal plays on the 12th inRussia and then receiveNorthern Irelandat home on the 16th. Portugal roster: Rui Patricio (Sporting) Beto (Braga) Eduardo (Istanbul BB) Miguel Lopes (FC Porto) Pepe (Real Madrid) Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid) Bruno Alves (Zenit) Luis Neto(Siena) Sereno(Valladolid) Joao Pereira
Paulo Bento has named his squad for the upcoming qualifiers for World Cup 2014, Portugal plays on
the 7th in Luxembourg and then receive Azerbaijan at home on the 11th. Portugal roster: Rui
Patricio (Sporting) Beto (Braga) Eduardo (Istanbul BB) Miguel Lopes (FC Porto) Pepe (Real Madrid)
Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid) Bruno Alves (Zenit) Nuno Coelho (Braga) Ricardo Costa (Valencia) Joao
Olhanense has signed former Portugal international starting keeper Ricardo as the newest member
of the club, the 36 year old is signed for the season and his leadership will be a boost for the
Southern Portugal club.
Benfica have landed 27 year old Brazilian attacker Michel from Pacos Ferreira. Michel scored 9
goals for Pacos last season and is in fight to earn a spot with the Eagles this upcoming season.
The Euro 2012 tournament is now complete and Spain have been crowned the title holders once again,
in what was an entertaining tournament we now select our 23 man roster from the star performances
of the 2012 tournament.GoalkeepersIker Casillas (Spain), Gianluiga Buffon (Italy), Manuel Neuer
(Germany)DefendersPEPE (PORTUGAL), FABIO COENTRAO (PORTUGAL), Gerard Pique (Spain), Jorge Alba (
Carlos Martins admits that his ambition is to return to play for Benfica next season. The
Portuguese international, who last season was loaned to Granada, Spain, goes further. "Right now my
priority is the future and health of my child. This is my real battle but I do not deny that I hope
to return to Benfica.
PSNL fans have selected once again Cristiano Ronaldo as the Portuguese Player of the Year for the
2011/12 season. Ronaldo gathered 88% of all votes placed and had another great year at Real Madrid,
winning the La Liga title and scoring 60 goals in all competitions for Real. The 27 year old winger
looks to be entering his prime and the sky is the limit for the phenom.
Euro 2012 kicks off for Portugal on Saturday as they face one of the tournament favourites in
Germany. The Portuguese side has yet to win a game in 2012 and after back to back disappointing
performances just before they tournament kicks off the team, the country and the fans around the
world expect better.
Enzo Perez's loan spell with Estudiantes ends on June 30/12 and Benfica will take another look at
the 26 year old winger who has been in great form this season. Universidade of Chile are also
interested in the winger but Benfica at this time have no interest in selling Perez.Â
The Portuguese League play is all but done with only the Taca de Portugal to be decided this
weekend. The league saw a three team dogfight for the title between FC Porto, Benfica and Braga,
these three teams players dominate our 23 man Portuguese League all star team.23 Man Portuguese
League All Star Squad:Goalies:Helton (FC Porto)Artur (Benfica)Quim (Braga)Defenders:Garay
(Benfica)Maxi
Italian papers are reporting that Roma are keen on landing one if not both of Benfica's key
playmakers this season Nicolas Gaitan and Axel Witsel. The Italian club though would have a hard
time obtaining both players as each has a $40M buy out clause in their contracts.Roma was also
linked earlier this season with Benfica defender Garay and are said to be treading the waters on
all three
Jose Eduardo Simoes, President of Academica went straight to the press room in Avalade Stadium
after his team suffered a 2-1 defeat to Sporting and blasted the league for allowing Uniao de
Leiria to play with 8 men against Feirense on Sunday a game they would go on to lose 4-0.Academica
is currently fighting relegation with Feirense and Simoes used words like disgrace,
misrepresentation of
The Euro 2012 tournament is now less then two months away and we take a look at what Portugal's 23
man roster could look like when the tournament opens in June. Paulo Bento will potentially look to
name 3 goaltendeers, 8 defenders, 9 midfielders/wingers and 3 strikers to the squad. In the first
of a four part series we take a look at Portugal's goaltending situation.
Sidnei will be returning to Benfica at season's end after Besiktas decided to not exercise their
option to purchase the player after his loan spell.Sidnei is currently suspended by Besiktas after
being caught after curfew at an Istanbul club. Portuguese players Bebe and Julio Alves were also
out with Sidnei and are also currently suspended by the club.
Benfica have set their sights on 20 year old midfielder Anthony Knockeart from Guingamp, currently
in the Franch second division. Benfica will have competition from Newcastle as they try to bring
the youngster to the Luz next season. The interest in current Benfica players, Nicolas Gaitan, Axel
Witsel and Rodrigo have the club already looking to retool for next season and Knockeart is one
German power house Bayern Munich has entered the frame in pursuit of Benfica winger Nicolas Gaitan.
Bayern have had scouts watching the 24 year old Argentinian player over the last few weeks and join
Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham as clubs looking to land Gaitan. Bayern are currently
stalled in negotiations with Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Gaitan would be the ideal replacement.
The Portuguese League is set to have a new look next season as the L.P.F.P. have approved a move
to add two more clubs to Portugal's top league, the move will take effect in the upcoming season if
ratified by the Portuguese Football Federation and Portugal's Sports Council. This season no teams
will be relegated from top flight while the top two teams from the Liga de Honra would be
Week 22 saw FC Porto's three point lead atop Portugal fall to just one after a 1-1 draw with
Academica, a late penalty kick gave the league leaders the draw one week after moving into top spot
in Portugal. Benfica got back to their winning ways defeating Pacos Ferreira 2-1 and Braga
stretched their league winning streak to nine games as both clubs are now one point behind Porto.
Week 21 saw Benfica fall out of first place for the first time since Week 4 of the season after
their loss in "O Classico" to FC Porto 3-2, in what was the game of the season to date. A late
controversial goal by Porto sealed the win and moved them three points clear of Benfica with nine
games left on the season.
Benfica and Porto face off in Week 21in the Portuguese League with the winner moving three points
clear of the other for top spot in Portugal. The two clubs after 20 games sit with the exact same
record and a loss by either club would not spell the end of their title hopes but their destiny
would be not controlled by them.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento has announced his 23 man squad for the upcoming friendly against Poland
in Warsaw on February 29/12. Bento has added U20 senstation and Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira to
his squad, as the youngster earns his first call up to the squad, while Manuel Fernandes has made
his way back to the National side.
Week 19 saw Benfica suffer their first defeat of the season at Guimaraes 2-1, the loss dropped
Benfica's lead atop Portugal to two points over Porto who defeated Setubal 3-1. Braga continued in
third place after their 3-0 win over Gil Vicente. Maritimo and Sporting continued their battle for
fourth spot as both clubs won this weekend, Maritimo 3-1 over Rio Ave and Sporting 1-0 over Pacos
Italian giants AC Milan are looking to inforce their back end and have made Real Madrid's Pepe one
of their main targets. Pepe who has a signed contract with Real until the 2016 season, does not
look to be going anywhere as long as Mourinho is running the club but Milan will make an offer
looking for Real to bite.
Benfica 21 year old striker Nelson Oliveira could be moved out on loan as the Eagles are said to be
offering his services to French clubs Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. The Portuguese U21 year old
international is not currently getting much playing time at the Luz and with the signing of Djalo
will have even less first team action.
Benfica have come to terms with former Sporting striker Yannick Djalo on a 4 and a half year
contract today. Djalo who has been a free agent since his transfer to Nice by Sporting was
declared to be invalid due to  the transfer window being closed has not seen any action since
August 2011. The 25 year old Djalo appeared in 98 games for Sporting, finding the twine 23 times.
Benfica have loaned out midfielder/right back Ruben Amorim to Braga for the next year and a half.
Amorim who had a falling out with Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, recently signed a contract extension
with the club until 2013 but the club felt it was in their best interest to loan Amorim to Braga
never the less.
Sporting have lost midfielder Stijn Schaars for up to three weeks after the player suffered a left
thigh injury, while on another front striker Bojinov looks to be headed out of Sporting on loan
with possible destinations being Lecce, Dynamo Kiev or Trabzonspor at this time.
Benfica's Bruno Cesar and Jardel were involved in a car accident in Portugal around 9pm on the
20th, both players were unharmed and were passengers in a car driven by a friend. Jorge Jesus was
glad that both players were not hurt and revealed that he has also been in a few accidents this
season the latest being on Christmas Eve.
Week 15 saw Benfica maintain their two point lead over Porto as the season hit the midway point.
Benfica earned a convincing 4-1 win over Setubal while Porto stayed pace with a 2-0 win over Rio
Ave. In what amounted to the game of the week, Braga defeated Sporting 2-1 to move into sole spot
of third place in the Portuguese league as Sporting drop to fourth.
Benfica and FC Porto have done Portugal proud by ranking in the Top 10 of the club world rankings
from IIHFS for 2011. Barcelona and Real Madrid were one/two as the two Spanish giants continue
their battle on all fronts. Top 10 World Clubs: 1- Barcelona (Spain) 2- Real Madrid (Spain) 3-
Velez Sarsfield (Argentina) 4- Manchester United (England) 5- Manchester City (England) 6- Santos
(Brazil)
