Back to the 2 for 1

In the past 2 days, reports that Benfica are close to signing forward Sinama Pongole and midfielder Carlos Martins from Recreativo de Huelva have grown stronger and stronger. With the frequency of the rumors, and the details that have emerged, can only lead me to believe that there is a strong possibility that these reports might in fact be true.

According to the reports the whole deal is going to cost Benfica 10mm.
Pongole was on Quique's shortlist of wanted players as well as Martins, who Rui Costa has an admiration for.

If the deal does in fact take place, Pongole is an excellent acquisition. At this time, i can't say the same thing about Martins. Yes the former Sporting player has talent, and has been reborn in Spain, but while at Sporting he was a player that spent more time on the medical report than on the game report. Last year in Spain he played 32 matches(31 started) and tallied 2,476 minutes, something that contradicts his years at Sporting.

It's not his capabilities that make me disagree with his acquisition, it’s the fact that, with Carlos Martins, Benfica will have found Rui Costa’s substitute, the cheap way, perhaps the only way the club can afford to do it. While many wish for Buonanote, Valdivia, Escudero, Thiago Neves as worthy substitutes for Rui Costa, the truth is that Benfica might not be able to afford them. Hence Martins’ choice, who despite being talented, is very far from being comparable to any of the 4 mentioned above.

I could be wrong, but something tells me that Martins will be Benfica’s new # 10, if the deal does in fact take place. Everyone else will get chalked up as too expensive and out of reach.

One last thing to finish, there was a report that Genoa is interested on taking Freddy Adu on a loan. Not only am I opposed to Freddy Adu going on loan, no matter where, but I have a feeling that if he goes to Genoa on loan, We will never again see him wearing a Benfica jersey. I hope that Quique realizes what Freddy can bring the team and keeps him on the squad. After a year of being in Portugal, and getting over the adaptation period, it is time to see where Freddy is and what he can bring Benfica.
For those of you who follow Freddy, and have had the opportunity to see him in action with the USMNT, you can tell how much Freddy has matured in the past year, and if you haven’t been able to tell, USMNT coach, Bob Bradley has often spoken favorably about Freddy and his progress.