Nine days after signing with Benfica, Krovinović underwent surgery on 23 June to correct a left inguinal hernia. On 17 June, Álex Grimaldo did not take part in Spain's squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship due to a "little injury" resulting in him missing the start of Benfica's pre-season. Due to Chapecoense's cancellation, Benfica did not host the Eusébio Cup in the pre-season for the first time since its first edition in 2008.Īs with the previous season, Benfica kept struggling with player injuries. By losing both matches, the team repeated its fourth-place finish achieved in 2014. Once again, Benfica stood powerless in the Emirates Cup. On 26 July, Benfica played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Swindon Town at Futebol Campus, where Seferovic and Andrija Živković scored for Benfica in a 2–1 win. The team redeemed itself with a victory in the Algarve Football Cup thanks to a brace by newly signed Seferovic. Benfica finished third in the Swiss tournament after a 5–1 defeat to Young Boys. As for the team's commitments, the program included the Uhrencup in Switzerland, a five-day stay in Algarve with two matches, and a stage at St George's Park in England, from 23 to 28 July, before the Emirates Cup. Until 12 July, the work schedule took place on the club's training ground. The pre-season started on 30 June 2017 with the usual medical exams and physical tests at Caixa Futebol Campus and at Hospital da Luz. On 25 January, Filipe Augusto was loaned out to Alanyaspor for one-and-a-half years and Barbosa's contract was terminated. The same day, Kostas Mitroglou, Benfica's top goalscorer in the previous season, was transferred to Olympique de Marseille for €15 million.ĭuring the mid-season transfer window, Lisandro López signed with Inter Milan on a half-year loan deal with an option to make the switch permanent. On transfer deadline day, Benfica announced the signings of Douglas and Gabriel Barbosa, both on a one-year loan spell from their respective clubs. Later in August, Benfica loaned out André Carrillo to Watford and André Horta to Braga, while Mile Svilar joined from Anderlecht. On 31 July, referring to the club's sales, Vieira said, "Until we do not have control over the debt, we will not stop selling." Diogo Gonçalves and Rúben Dias were promoted from Benfica B and João Carvalho integrated the team after a loan spell at Vitória de Setúbal.īenfica lost three players from the starting 11 before the season started: on 1 June, Ederson signed with Manchester City for €40 million on 14 June, Victor Lindelöf left to Manchester United for €35 million and on 14 July, Nélson Semedo moved to Barcelona for €30.5 million. Haris Seferovic, Filip Krovinović, Martin Chrien and Bruno Varela transferred to Benfica. Swedish central defender Victor Lindelöf left Benfica after five and a half years. Humble and focused so that it can happen." Despite the ambition, on 31 July, Vieira said that "one can mortgage a title or another but not the future ", referring to player transfers. It is fundamental to have the first time ambition. The following day, manager Rui Vitória explained his approach to the new season: "We know that there's a goal previously assumed by the President and the best way to achieve it is to go on together, like it was the first time. On 29 June 2017, club president Luís Filipe Vieira gave the motto for the coming season, " Rumo ao Penta", and promised a renewed ambition to conquer an unprecedented fifth-straight Primeira Liga title for Benfica.
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