How Benfica have made €200 million in player sales alone in the last decade

Once a European powerhouse Benfica has now fallen to the level of being just a talent producer
Once a European powerhouse Benfica has now fallen to the level of being just a talent producer

#6 Rodrigo - £26m

Rodrigo was a Benfica player between 2011 and 2015.
Rodrigo was a Benfica player between 2011 and 2015.

The lynchpin of the Valencian attack garnered his name during his tenure with Benfica. The Spanish international started his career with the reserves of Real Madrid and moved to the Portuguese side in 2011 for a reported fee of €6 million after failing to break into the Real Madrid first team squad.

The first season with Benfica saw the Brazilian born Spanish striker being sent out on loan to English club Bolton Wanderers. It was in the second season that the Spanish striker was given his Portuguese debut as Rodrigo scored 16 goals in 38 appearances in his first season in Portugal.

Rodrigo spent two more seasons with Benfica before moving on loan to Valencia in the 2014-15 season. The loan moved proved to be vital for the Spaniard as Valencia signed the striker on a permanent basis for a reported fee of £26 million.

Rodrigo made a total of 120 appearances for Benfica and scored 45 times for them, winning 1 Taca da Liga along with the domestic treble in the 2013-14 season while twice finishing as the runners up in the UEFA Europa League.


#7 Goncalo Guedes

Goncalo Guedes is a Benfica Academy product
Goncalo Guedes is a Benfica Academy product

The winger who lit the La Liga last season with some mesmerizing performances for Valencia was, in fact, a product of the famous Benfica Academy.

Goncalo Guedes joined the Academy at the age of 8, moving through the ranks of the youth system before making his professional debut for the Benfica B side in 2014. 6 months later the teenager was given his debut for the senior side, coming on in injury time for a league match. The winger became of regular of sorts in the next season as he became the youngest Portuguese player to score in the Champions League with a goal against Atletico Madrid in 2015, aged 18.

Guedes impressive performances with the Portuguese side earned him a made to Paris Saint Germain the next year as the French giants paid £22 million in the January transfer window of 2016/17 season to buy the winger.

Goncalo Guedes made 68 appearances for Benfica scoring 11 goals and winning the Primera Liga 3 times, Taca da Liga twice, Taca de Portugal and Supertaca Candido de Oliveira once.

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