The serious injury of the Brazilian central defender Lucas Verissimo (26 years) before him Braga will force the Benfica to look again towards Barcelona. The defender suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in the knee last Sunday, with different affectations, which will force him to undergo surgery and a prolonged period of rehabilitation that will prevent him from playing again throughout the season.
Before this prolonged low, the rival of the Barça in the group stage of the Champions League will go to the winter market in search of a replacement. According to the Portuguese journalist Pedro Almeida, the Lisbon club has set its eyes again on Samuel umtiti, which he already loved in summer. On Portugal there was even talk of an offer of 10 million euros but the player insisted on staying in the Barça and there was no option to negotiate.
The arrival of Xavi has raised hopes of Umtiti to demonstrate to Barça that he has a place in the squad and that he can give play to the team. He does not think of a change although he knows that he is before his last great opportunity. The same Portuguese source assures that the two clubs will speak coinciding with the next match of the Champions League in Barcelona.
Verssimo, who was summoned by Brazil in the next matches of the country’s selection for the World Cup against Colombia and Argentina, arrived in Lisbon in the winter market this year, signing a contract until the summer of 2025.
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