Benfica’s amazing array of former talent includes Nunez, Silva and Felix – and earned club over £1bn in transfers

AS football clubs go, none are more profitable and prolific when it comes to producing talent than Benfica.

The Portuguese giants have generated over £1billion in player sales over the past decade, made from shrewd buys and bringing players through their excellent youth set-up.

Enzo Fernandez is the latest superstar set for a big move from BenficaGetty

Last summer, Darwin Nunez swapped Benfica for Liverpool in an £85m dealGetty

Latest superstar Enzo Fernandez was brought to the club from Argentina only this year, before shining at the World Cup for his country. Now, he’s set for a blockbuster £105million move to Chelsea.

Last summer, Darwin Nunez swapped Lisbon for Liverpool in a whopping £85million deal.

Joao Felix’s transfer to Atletico Madrid for a staggering £115million still remains their highest record departure.

While in the future, new wonderkid Goncalo Ramos could generate a huge fee – with Man Utd circling.

Here’s just some of the superstars who have passed through their doors at the Caixa Futebol Campus, and what they have gone on to become.

Darwin Nunez

Not strictly a youth product, but definitely a round of applause is needed for the scouts who recommended Nunez.

The Uruguayan was playing second division football in Spain with Almeria, before Benfica took a gamble and signed him as a 21-year-old in 2020.

In two seasons he scored 48 goals in 85 games, convincing Jurgen Klopp to pay an £85million fee.

Ruben Dias

The now Man City defender, 25, began his football education at Benfica in 2008, when he was just 11.

After graduating through their youth teams, he made his debut for the club in 2017.

Dias would go on to make 137 appearances, before joining the Premier League champions for £65million in 2020.

Ruben Dias came through Benfica’s youth set-upGetty Images – Getty

Joao Cancelo

Just like Dias, Cancelo joined Benfica when he was a kid – aged 13.

However, he would only ever play one game for the club before he was loaned out to Valencia, who exercised an option to buy the wing-back for around £12million in 2015.

The international star would go on to play for Inter Milan and Juventus, who Man City would pay £60million to for his services.

Joao Cancelo joined Benfica at 13 – but only played onceGetty

David Luiz

The Brazil legend played 55 times across the second and third division for Vitoria in Brazil, when Benfica took a punt on him for a meagre £500,000 in 2007.

Luiz would go on to play 132 times for the Primeira Liga side, establishing himself as one of Europe’s leading defenders.

Chelsea would pay a massive £25million fee for the centre-back in 2010, and he would go on to have an impressive career – starring at PSG, returning to Chelsea, then Arsenal, and currently Flamengo.

Benfica made nearly £25million profit on David Luiz when they sold him to ChelseaAction Images – Reuters

Bernardo Silva

Born in Lisbon, it was inevitable Silva would play for boyhood club Benfica.

He joined their youth ranks when he was just eight, making his debut aged 19.

But the attacking midfielder would only play three times, before he was loaned out to Monaco, who snapped him up for £15million in 2015, after a successful loan.

City snapped him up for £45million in 2017, where he has enjoyed incredible success.

Bernardo Silva made his debut for Benfica aged 19Getty

Renato Sanches

In 2006, nine-year-old Sanches was welcomed into the Benfica academy.

At 18, he was thrown into the deep-end where he became one of Europe’s most sought-after talents.

Bayern Munich paid a staggering £35million fee for him in 2016, although he failed to live up to expectations.

A loan move to Swansea further dented his rep, however at Lille Sanches would rebuild his career.

This season, he signed for PSG – where he is continuing to go from strength-to-strength.

AFPRenato Sanches was sold for a staggering £35m in 2016 to Bayern Munich[/caption]

Joao Felix

The golden boy of Portugal football, Felix is Benfica’s biggest success story.

After leaving Porto, he was snapped up by the club he would make his debut for aged just 16.

In his one and only season he scored 20 goals in 43 games – and was awarded the Golden Boy.

Atletico snapped him for a mammoth £115million fee, although he has struggled to live up to the hype. Perhaps a move to the Premier League can help revitalise the top talent?

ReutersPortugal golden boy is Benfica’s biggest success story – generating a mega £115m after coming through the academy[/caption]

Ederson

The Brazilian shotstopper was initially released by Benfica aged 16.

Ederson built his career up at second division Ribeirão, then starred at Rio Ave, until Benfica resigned him in 2015 for a paltry £500,000.

He would dislodge Julio Cesar as the club’s No1, and in 2017 moved to Man City for £35million.

Getty – ContributorEderson left Benfica but returned before making his name in the game[/caption]

Angel Di Maria

Argentina legend Di Maria would go on to have an incredible career at clubs, including Real Madrid, Man Utd, PSG and currently Juventus.

But many will have forgotten his stint at Benfica between 2007-10, which set him on his way.

He arrived in Portugal for £6million as a 19-year-old from Rosario Central.

Three years later, Los Blancos would pay a mega £33million fee for him.

Angel Di Maria’s European football career began at Benfica when he was 19PA:Empics Sport

And here’s how they did it…

In 2006, when Benfica legend Eusebio opened their new training centre and youth academy, Caixa Futebol Campus there was hope that they could mould players into playing the way they wanted them to.

And there’s no doubt the facilities provided give youngsters the opportunity to develop as well as anywhere in the world.

Around 65 kids from around the world play on the nine pitches the campus boasts.

There are 20 dressing rooms, two auditoriums, and three state-of-the art gyms filled with the latest strength and conditioning equipment a top athlete needs.

Benfica youth coach Luis Nascimento revealed to These Football Times: “Youth football is a fundamental area for Benfica, with sporting, social and financial benefits.

“We do not talk exclusively about ‘training’, we refer also to ‘educating’. The academic performance of our players is monitored and encouraged at all levels.”

The Caixa Futebol Campus was launched in 2006

The training academy in Seixal features nine pitches

A state-of-the-art gym gives players the opportunity to work on strength and conditioning training

JEWEL IN THE CROWN

In recent years, football clubs in this country have cottoned on to new technology to improve the abilities of their players.

Benfica have been at the forefront of new ideas that push the boundaries of training for years.

Their most innovative method centres around the 360S simulator, a similar tool to the Footbonaut used in the Bundesliga.

Designed to test reaction speeds, vision and technical execution, the player receives the ball from various points and has to aim for moving targets inside a 10-foot circle.

At the same time, robotic-like players offer a distraction by moving along the walls of each side of the cage.

Goalkeepers can also use it because the system can simulate a variety of shots that dip, curl and can be fired at them.

Current Leeds forward Helder Costa, who came through the ranks at Benfica, revealed: “The 360S makes us work not only our capacity of reaction, but also our precision.”

The 360S simulator helps Benfica’s players hone their technique

Robotic figures appear on the walls that either need to be passed to or avoided

The software for the 360S simulator allows training to be modified depending on the player’s position and attributes he needs

EDUCATION COMES FIRST

Manners maketh man, and that’s exactly what Benfica expect from their players coming through the ranks.

That’s why their academy has a partnership with a local school in the Seixal area, where the campus is based, and the starlets receive an academic education alongside their footballing one.

On top of that, 30 of the prospects live with host families in the surrounding community who aid the in the development process.

Nascimento concluded: “The mission of Benfica’s academy is to guarantee the quality of technical training and educational enrichment of its players, of all age groups, with a focus on the integration into the clubs first team, promoting human values such as respect, responsibility, solidarity, justice and tolerance.”