Benfica coach warns Juventus about Antonio Silva January transfer | OneFootball

Benfica coach Bruno Lage warns Juventus that clubs interested in Antonio Silva must have a ‘full wallet’ and pay the defender’s release clause.

Portuguese defender Antonio Silva wants to join Juventus in the winter transfer window, as his agent Jorge Mendes recently revealed.

Nevertheless, Benfica coach Bruno Lage warned the Bianconeri that they’d need to match the defender’s release clause to sign the 21-year-old next month.

“It’s not a problem for us, for two reasons: firstly, no one has spoken to me about this issue, and secondly, I see the player completely focused on Benfica,” he said at a press conference on Saturday, as quoted by A Bola.

Benfica coach warns Juventus about Antonio Silva January transfer

Juventus Football director Cristiano Giuntoli (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images)

“Yesterday, we were working on several specific situations for his position, both on the right and on the left, so that he can understand both positions better and better. He was focused and motivated in training. I see he’s very determined to help Benfica become champions.

“I mention this because from what I can see, it would be a loan situation. At the end of the season, those who don’t have a contract can be free to decide their future, those who do have a contract… have to wait for the termination clauses,” continued the Benfica coach.

“One thing is certain; those who want Benfica players have to come with a full wallet. And in recent years, they have come with a full wallet. Things will happen; it has happened in the past with several players, and it will undoubtedly occur in the future with António or Tomás [Araujo].

“What we can’t sell is our training centre and the way in which the players develop to play in the first team, that’s out of the question and we can’t sell it. Besides, depending on the market, the big teams with financial power come here, convince the player, pay the clause and the player leaves.”

Antonio Silva is under contract with Benfica until 2027 and according to Portuguese media, his release clause is €100m.

However, the Portuguese talent has not been a regular starter under Bruno Lage this term and has spent six of the last eight league games on the bench.

Juventus need at least one defensive reinforcement in the January transfer window to replace the injured Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal who will remain out of action for the rest of the season due to cruciate ligament injuries.