Benfica beat Chelsea and Ajax to Uruguayan teenage sensation

Striker Urretavizcaya set to pen long-term deal for Eagles

Benfica show no signs of slowing down in the transfer market. According to Portuguese Sports daily, Record, the Lisbon club have secured the signature of 18-year-old prodigy Jonathan Urretavizcaya.

The paper says the Uruguayan striker has put pen to paper on a contract that will keep him at the club for the next five seasons. The signing is seen as a major coup as the teenager is considered one of the hottest properties in South America, with the Eagles beating the likes of Ajax and Chelsea to his signature.

The player (thankfully also known as Urreta) scored 8 goals in 14 matches for Uruguay’s River Plate this past season, making clubs in Europe stand up and take notice.

Club president, Juan Jose Tuduri, yesterday said “Yes, they spoke with me and it is quite possible that Urretavizcaya will go to Benfica. At what price? I’d say two million euros and they can take him. If they pay this all will be settled and he’ll go to Lisbon.”

It appears that Benfica have done just that, and have continued their policy of signing promising young talent, following on from last summer’s captures of Fabio Coentrao, Angel Di Maria and Freddy Adu.

No Miccoli return

In other team news, one player who will not be rejoining the Eagles is Fabrizio Miccoli. The diminutive Italian striker has been linked with a possible return to the Estadio da Luz after spending one season with Serie A outfit Palermo.

The rumours have gone as far as club director Rino Foschi admitting that Rui Costa had contacted the Sicilian club and enquired about Miccoli’s availability. But now the player’s agent, Francisco Calandro, has slammed reports stating the former Juventus player was on his way back to Portugal.

“Rui Costa never scheduled a meeting with Palermo’s board as regards Miccoli. None of this has ever existed. In the transfer market, we can never say what will happen, but Miccoli’s will is to stay at Palermo.”

Assis ponders future

Finally, one player who may be leaving the club is midfielder Nuno Assis. The former Vitoria Guimaraes midfielder has endured a tumultuous time while at Benfica. After winning the championship back in 2005, Assis has featured very little since his subsequent suspension for allegedly using banned substances.

The addition of Carlos Martins may definitively push the skilful playmaker out of the exit door. Greek side PAOK, coached by former Benfica boss Fernando Santos, are rumoured to be interested in taking on Nuno Assis, although the player himself wants to see out his last year with Benfica.

“Some interesting proposals have surfaced, but I do have one year left on my contract and I would like to stay with Benfica. I wish to return to the level I was in previous seasons. I know that last season I was not used all that much, but I intend to play more and extend my contract,” declared Assis.