'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Valencia CF have announced that Enzo Perez has joined from Benfica for a fee reported to be in the region of €25 million.
The Argentinian midfielder was linked with Manchester United for a long time, and reports even suggested that United’s record signing Angel Di Maria had been trying to persuade his countryman to join Old Trafford in the January transfer window.
Benfica continued their recent trend of selling their best players as Perez joins Angel Di Maria, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic as players who left the Portuguese giants for bigger clubs across Europe. Perez is the second player from Benfica to join Valencia is recent history, following Rodrigo’s move to Spain.
Perez spoke briefly at the city's Manises airport after a long day of negotiations and flights, declaring, "I am happy to be joining Valencia CF. I want to thank all the people who have come out to welcome me here." The midfielder, who was greeted by fans at the airport, also added, "Let's hope that this continues forward."
During his time at Benfica, Perez won one League title and three domestic trophies. The 28-year-old midfielder is a regular member of the Argentina national squad and was part of the side which reached the World Cup final in 2014.
