The midfielder has extended to 2024 and doubles his release clause, meaning Europe's big guns will have to dig deep for his signature in the future
Florentino Luis has signed a new contract with Benfica, which doubles his release clause from €60 million to €120m (£107m/$136m).
The highly-regarded defensive midfielder had emerged as a summer transfer target for Manchester City and Paris St-Germain but will instead stay with the Portuguese champions.
Benfica had been concerned about the prospect of losing Florentino ahead of time, with his release clause set tantalisingly low, but succeeded in agreeing terms with the 19-year-old on the first day of pre-season, July 1.
Forward Joao Felix is all set to join Atletico Madrid imminently - the club who earlier this summer lodged a €126m offer to sign the Portuguese - and Benfica were determined to hang on to their other academy crown jewel this summer.
Florentino, whose previous deal extended through to 2023, has signed new terms to 2024.
The Benfica youth product established himself in the Benfica team in the second half of the season, with nine Primeira Liga starts, as his club reclaimed the Portuguese title from Porto.
Manchester City have kept track of his progress and he was seen as a potential long-term replacement for Fernandinho in Pep Guardiola’s midfield. However, Atleti’s Rodri is the immediate priority in that position .
Adrien Rabiot’s free transfer to Juventus has been confirmed and PSG had been in the market for a midfield replacement. Florentino is also admired at Parc des Princes.
Roma, meanwhile, are building for the future under new coach Paulo Fonseca and sporting director Gianluca Petrachi and had looked at Florentino as a potential centrepiece in their revival.
Florentino has been a mainstay in the Portuguese national youth setup, being part of the winning UEFA European Under-17 Championship team in 2016 and the European Under-19 Championship team in 2018, and appearing in the team of the tournament at each of those competitions.
liverpoolfan2017
0
I don't know what is wrong with man city transfer board, they can't sign any player
Are you serious, they bought a back up right back for 50million. Stop being ungrateful
AbijithAbi122
6
we can buy saul at this price
crossover
3
benifica is the new ajax
moratorium
0
imo will be one of the best from these youth academy guys. Had an amazing season
UARTsure
2
We do need another CB. I'll call GilMa and see if he can put another 120 together
Lawrencium
2
Now this is good news. Florentino has amazing potential, just like Ferro, Felix, Ruben Dias and Gedson. Since we already lost Felix, we need to keep these at all costs.
combination
2
Well Florentino isn't a center back, I think maybe you want Ruben for that job
KAUST
0
hes a defensive mid though
Lopandlle
0
Benfica and Ajax are the best teams in the world to develop young players. Benfica is Benfica and Ajax is Ajax. I dont feel that's fair to compare the two, both are great...
Chris11
0
Gonna be tough to lose him that clause. I know it's the same as Felix but can anyone really reject an offer of that size for a relatively unproven talent?
Mokekrt
5
120M for this burnt black bread
amicablea
0
That's part of the strategy so we can sell them earlier.
mancity9
2
Increasing his release clause doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll leave for the clause. The president repeatedly insisted that Félix would only leave if someone activated his release clause but he’s about to dip with a fugazi offer of 120M spread out over several seasons, instead of in one single payment (which is what ‘activating the release clause’ means, it’s what happened with Neymar for example). And that same insistence (that the cantera players would only leave for their release clause) hasn’t been the case with every other young player.
unknow
0
I’d agree the release clause is fairly unlikely, but Rodri is about to leave for a rumored 70 million. If the market keeps climbing, he keeps on improving and we have good CL campaigns (no one expected them with the previous manager but they should be expected now)... a sale around that value doesn’t seem unlikely at all to me.
LoveHardy
0
Thought he was a CB for some reason. I guess I got him mixed up with Ferro
Halifax
0
Like we always did. I mean we've been the club with the highest profits on selling since 08/07. We can't manage to keep any of our good young players for more than a couple of seasons it seems.
kidding
1
We are getting payed in one lump sum, because we are going to use the extra 6M to secure a loan for the 120 and pay the 6M extra interest
KAHN001
0
Sorry we will set it real low next time so you guys can afford it
neurology
0
60m was too high anyway but let’s make it even more ridiculous
promis
0
Sorry we will set it real low next time so you guys can afford it
Safariy
0
This guy tho. New Busquets
elshawraye
1
Now days these players price r more den... The actual price lol the even worth 10 mill lol.... Just imagine if Ronaldinho. Ronaldo.. Or other stars were present.. Playing... How much dere price would be 300 mill. Or 400 mill... Lol foot ball transfer r being hella expensive as hell
KosarachiNana
6
I don't know what is wrong with man city transfer board, they can't sign any player
Football_Kid
3
it's usually Florentino who singns players rit?😕