João Mário still has a long contract with the Reds, until the summer of 2026, and, according to information gathered by A BOLA, the Portuguese international midfielder wants to continue at Benfica next season; but it is not certain that this will happen.
Hired from Inter Milan earlier this season, after having played for rival Sporting in 2020/2021, on loan from the Italians, João Mário has lost space in a very clear way since Nélson Veríssimo took charge of the team, at the end of December 2020. last year, replacing Jorge Jesus in the lead.
João Mário’s final tip was below expectations – after missing three games due to injury, the creative midfielder started only against Belenenses SAD, on matchday 29 (he made the 90′), and entered 27 minutes against Estoril, 45′ against SC Braga, 4′ against Liverpool in the Luz game, 24′ in the England challenge and 4′ in the last round of the League, in the derby against Sporting. So very little.
Especially for a player from whom the Benfica fans expected a lot and who is one of the best paid in the squad. João Mário will force SAD to make an annual effort above 5 million euros gross, a value possibly only surpassed by the German defensive midfielder Julian Weigl. At a time when the idea of Benfica – publicly assumed by Rui Costa – is to reduce the salary mass, it is natural that the continuity of João Mário is rethought, weighing the age of the player, what he earns and what he earns, or could pay off.
The decision will always, and mainly, pass by Roger Schmidt, the coach of Dutch PSV, but who is already committed to Benfica for the new season.
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