Didn't play much last night, but Gaitan is a class act

Gaitan is a tricky customer for sure.

Both Benfica and Porto have some players who'd look good in the Premier League, Mangala, Gaitan, Rodrigo, Martinez just a few names.

Would like Mangala at Arsenal if Vermaelen goes, could be a like for like replacement as Mangala can cover LB too.

Quintero of Porto is class, although unfortunately, may be too small and unable to handle the physical rigors of the English game.

i suspect Porto will be raided again aint they in 3rd place, i think only top2 in Portugal qualify for UCL. Im not 100% sure.

Mangala would be a disaster in the PL. Cannot believe Napoli wasted so many gifts from him yesterday, shocking performance.
Dunno if it was the failed move to City, but he has been shocking for a while now.

comment by Hector Salamanca *dingdingdingding* (U14225)
posted 48 seconds ago
Both Benfica and Porto have some players who'd look good in the Premier League, Mangala, Gaitan, Rodrigo, Martinez just a few names.

Would like Mangala at Arsenal if Vermaelen goes, could be a like for like replacement as Mangala can cover LB too.

Quintero of Porto is class, although unfortunately, may be too small and unable to handle the physical rigors of the English game.
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Mangala will end up at City imo. France have three fantastic young CBs coming up at the same time in Mangala, Zouma and Varane

Rodrigo isn't that good

Remember Gaitan being good vs Chelsea in the final last year. They do have some very good players- its a shame they can't help but lose players year on year as if they could keep a squad together they could really establish themselves more in europe.

For example Benfica could still have the likes of Matic, Ramires and Luiz if they could fend of interest of others.

Both Benfica and Porto have some players who'd look good in the Premier League, Mangala, Gaitan, Rodrigo, Martinez just a few names.

Would like Mangala at Arsenal if Vermaelen goes, could be a like for like replacement as Mangala can cover LB too.

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Mangala (rightly or wrongly) is rated as one of the best young defenders in Europe right now!

Citteh offered outrageous money for him on January, close to 30 million quid I think.

I thoink it is safe to say that if they're still interested come the summer, there's only place he'll end up, and that's at Eastlands, nuzzling at the crotch of a Pellegrini, like an over-zealous Irish Red Setter!

i suspect Porto will be raided again aint they in 3rd place, i think only top2 in Portugal qualify for UCL. Im not 100% sure.

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Sacked their manager last week. Yup, they're third and look inferior to Benfica and Sporting this season.

Interesting how Martinez has recentrly signed a contract extension at Porto, yet between himself and his agent, they're constantly dreaming up loving scenarios with other clubs. Think he'll move this summer. He's deadlier than Ebola in front of goal that guy. But at 28 years old (this summer), I'm not so sure too many clubs will be prepared to offer the kind of outrageous transfer-fee that Porto will demand for him?

Rodrigo isn't that good

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Certainly flattered to deceive after initially moving to the Portuguese capital.

Came with a lot of hype & a fairly hefty transfer fee for a club like Benfica to shell out! But it can't go unnoticed that in the last 4/5 months the player is starting to show just why he was lauded as a potential 'star'. His form has been good & he's started to find the back of the net more frequently.

Like yourself, I thought he was destined to be a player who just fell short in terms of being top quality. But now that he's starting to blossom, I DO think he's got a chance of becoming a very good player. If he does leave Lisbon, I think his choice of club will be pivotalin terms of his development. He made an astute and admirable choice turning down Zenit, who by all accounts offered him outrageous personal-terms.

If Martinez was 26 i would say go for him but at 28 spending 30Million on him would not be a good idea.

Also not sure about Mangala, everytime i see him he makes mistakes after mistakes. He may turn out good in the end but for 30Million i would not take that risk.

Also not sure about Mangala, everytime i see him he makes mistakes after mistakes. He may turn out good in the end but for 30Million i would not take that risk.

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He's obviously pushing someone's buttons. Like I say, he's quite matter-of-factly regarded as one of the top young defenders in Europe!

I get that with a few younger players. ter-Stegen, who looks nailed on to replace Victor Valdes between the sticks at the Nou Camp this summer for example.

He's rated as one of the (if not THE) best young keeper(s) in World football. Yet every time I watch him play, he drops an outrageous howler!

Hasn't Rodrigo been kept out of the team by Cardozo for most of his time at Benfica?

Hasn't Rodrigo been kept out of the team by Cardozo for most of his time at Benfica?

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Not so much recently, Cardozo has had a few issues with injury too.

Yeah, what I meant is that more than underwhelming, he was in competition with a guy who couldn't stop scoring.

Yeah, what I meant is that more than underwhelming, he was in competition with a guy who couldn't stop scoring.

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Yeah, very fair point.

Like I say, it's specifically in the last 4/6 months that the player has only just started to look something like the player that many suggested h could be.

He looked like an average to good (at best) Primeira Liga striker. Since he's started to flex his muscles a bit, you can actually see what a lot of the hype was/is about. Confidence is a wonderful thing!

Salvio is Benficas best player imo.

Despite being a Porto follower, he's my favourite player in the league (behind Fernando of course).