Thiago Neves moves a step closer to Benfica

Brazilian hotshot admits contact has been made

Rumours surrounding Benfica’s interest in Fluminese prodigy, Thiago Neves, are starting to gather pace as the player himself now admits he is aware of the Portuguese giants’ interest in him and that there is an offer on the table to take him to Lisbon next season.

As reported earlier on PortuGOAL, Flu’s director of football Claudio Branco confessed that Benfica wanted to take the player to Portugal, but that they would have had to pay in the region of 10-12 million euros for the player’s signature.

Now it is Neves himself who has revealed to the Brazilian press that Benfica are hot on his heels. “I do know of Benfica’s proposal. but I do not want to get involved in any discussions of any transfers. I just want to think about Fluminenese,” said the talented midfielder.

Neves has a contract with the Brazilian club until 2010, and Flu do not want to see the player leave for the Old Continent, not until June anyway after the Copa Libertadores tournament according to Neves’ agent, Leo Rabello.

The player’s representative even added more fuel to the fire when he confessed that he had already met with Benfica president, Luis Filipe Vieira, regarding his client. “I met with the president of Benfica in October, November of last year. We spoke about Thiago Neves. After that nobody else from the club has got back to me.”

Cardozo hit with three-match ban

In other club news, UEFA have handed down their sentence regarding striker Oscar Cardozo and the decision is not good for the Paraguayan.

The Disciplinary Committee from Europe’s governing body have slapped a three match suspension on the Benfica player for his red card infraction against Getafe’s Belengeur in the first leg of the Round of 16 Uefa Cup tie.

The striker has already served one match as he sat out the return leg in Getafe, but will miss the first two fixtures Benfica play in Europe next season. The player can appeal, but it is expected that neither the player nor the club will take up the option and will simply accept the decision.