Benfica manager Marco Silva has declared that Vangelis Pavlidis is a “fundamental player” who he’s not willing to lose “under any circumstances” following transfer rumors linking him to FC Barcelona.
The Catalans are looking for a new striker after the departure of Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire. Julián Alvarez is the top target, but Atlético Madrid have been steady in declining all offers.
Other alternatives such as João Pedro from Chelsea FC and Eli Junior Kroupi from AFC Bournemouth have faded
as their clubs have also proved unwilling to part with their players.
“Pavlidis has already established himself as a very important player during his time at Benfica, and he is a very important player for me and for us,” Silva explained.
The remarks come as Pavlidis scored an impressive four goals in a single Europa League qualifying match against Swiss team FC St. Gallen. “A poker [four goals] to seduce Barcelona,” read the headline in Diario AS.
“Being a striker who scores goals, having the ability to do so, is very important, but Pavlidis is much more than that. The other work he does, both with and without the ball, the sheer amount he contributes to the team… he is a very important player,” Silva stated.
Reports from Portugal say that Benfica are not keen to part with Pavlidis, who has become a top player for them. However, the report left the door slightly creaked open, noting that an “irresistible” offer could change their minds.
As for Silva, he declared he was “not worried at all” about losing his star man.
