Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni has detailed his pitchside exchange with Lionel Messi during Argentina's 3-0 win against Benin. The 20-year-old was an unused substitute on the night, admitting he was starstruck by being part of the squad and revealing he made sure to embrace the veteran to thank him for his service during his final international bow.
Former Portugal international Hugo Porfirio has been spotted working as an Uber driver in Lisbon decades after sharing the pitch with legends such as Luis Figo and Rui Costa. The 53-year-old former West Ham and Benfica winger was unexpectedly recognised by two passengers during a routine inner-city trip, providing a rare glimpse into his quiet post-football life.
Porto striker Samu Aghehowa has finally made his long-awaited return to competitive action after a gruelling 223-day recovery from a serious knee injury. The Spanish forward stepped back onto the pitch during the closing stages of the high-stakes Clássico against Benfica, marking the end of a difficult period spent on the sidelines.
Benfica manager Marco Silva demanded total refereeing equality while ruling out settling for a draw in Sunday's O Clássico against FC Porto. The former Fulham boss also detailed his tactical plan to bypass the champions' aggressive press.
FC Porto head coach Francesco Farioli mocked refereeing controversies as a 'Netflix series' ahead of Sunday's massive O Classico against Benfica. The outspoken Italian manager also banned media noise surrounding international call-ups for Santiago Gimenez and domestic snubs.
The romance of returning to where it all began can often be impossible to ignore, and in some cases, can serve as the perfect cap for a remarkable career
Ruben Amorim has admitted he is unsure if AC Milan are suffering from a "mental issue" after his side slumped to a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Benfica. The Rossoneri’s Europa League campaign got off to the worst possible start at San Siro, leaving the Portuguese coach facing immediate questions over his tactical approach and team selection.
Ruben Amorim is already facing intense scrutiny after a heavily rotated AC Milan side stumbled to a 2-0 Europa League defeat against Benfica at San Siro. The Rossoneri struggled to create meaningful chances as the Portuguese giants secured a historic first-ever victory over their Italian rivals.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has made a high-profile return to AC Milan's training headquarters, ending a six-month absence from the club's daily operations. The legendary Swede was spotted at Milanello on Monday morning, marking his first appearance at the facility since a period of significant internal upheaval.
Argentine starlet Claudio Echeverri has arrived in Lisbon to finalize his loan move to Benfica from Manchester City. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder consulted Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva before opting to join Marco Silva's squad on a deal that includes a option to buy.