14 June 2007, by Tom Kundert & Marco Pereira

Open warfare between Porto and Benfica

Bitter rivals battle over same transfer targets

Porto and Benfica have taken their fierce rivalry off the pitch and into the transfer market. The two clubs have been involved in a frenzied whirl of negotiations for the same three players, with Porto seemingly winning the chase for Edgar and Kazmierczak.

First came the news that Porto were attempting to take Italian striker Miccoli to the Estadio do Dragao after his successful two-year loan spell at Benfica, before Juventus decided that they would retain the player.

And the champions have now apparently snatched Brazilian striker Edgar from under Benfica’s noses and are also trying to broker a deal with Polish international Kazmierczak, whose club are currently negotiating the player with... Benfica.

Revelation

The 20-year-old Edgar was one of the revelations of last season, turning in a series of highly impressive displays for Beira-Mar, finishing the club’s top scorer despite only joining in the January transfer window.

The promising player is a Brazil U-20 international, is a strong aerial threat at 1.91 metres, as well as having skilful feet. After adapting well to Portuguese football and following Beira-Mar’s relegation, it was inevitable that he would be moving on to one of Portugal’s major clubs.

Yesterday it was reported in several sections of the Portuguese press that Edgar had signed a two-year deal with Benfica, but according to today’s edition of O Jogo, Porto have swooped to complete a season-long loan deal for the striker, with an option to buy the player outright in 12 months’ time.

Kazmierczak confusion

A similar story could well be developing with regard to former Boavista midfielder Kazmierczak. The president of his club Pogon, has already confirmed that the Benfica are leading the chase for the player’s signature.

But the Pole has thrown a wrench into a possible deal by expressing his preference for a move to Porto.

“I think that FC Porto are the best team in Portugal. They are the champions and will play in the Champions League next season. If it were between Porto and Benfica, I’d choose Porto,” he said.

Kazmierczak added that working again with Porto coach, Jesualdo Ferreira, is another reason why he would select Benfica’s eternal rivals.

“I have already worked with the coach at Boavista. I know him well and my preference would be to go to Porto, but it all depends on the conditions being offered and an agreement between me and the club.”

The day after Porto president Pinto da Costa was formally accused of attempting to bribe a referee in 2004, the charismatic figurehead of Portugal’s most successful club over the past two decades has proved he is still very much alive and kicking.