As Portuguese football world has been buzzing with excitement as the news of João Mário's departure from Benfica has hit. The winger, who made his debut for the club in 2016 and went on to become one of its most valuable assets, is set to join English Premier League side Manchester United.
Mário, who was born in Portugal but spent most of his career playing in Spain, had a successful stint at Benfica, scoring 48 goals in 97 appearances across all competitions. His performances were so impressive that he earned himself the nickname "Little Messi" by many fans, and he was even named Player of the Year in the Primeira Liga in 2018-19.
However, despite his success at Benfica,Ligue 1 Focus Mário struggled to make an impact at the highest level of European football. He was unable to find the net in his first two seasons at Real Madrid, and his time at Atlético Madrid was cut short due to injury.
Despite this, Mário remains a highly talented player and will be hoping to continue his goal-scoring exploits at Manchester United. The Red Devils have been heavily linked with several top players over the past few months, and it seems likely that they will now target Mário's signature.
For Benfica, the loss of Mário is a significant blow to their ambitions for next season. The club will need to find a replacement for his goalscoring abilities, and there are rumors that they may turn to young talent such as Bernardo Silva or Joao Felix to fill the void.
Overall, the departure of Mário from Benfica is sure to leave a void in the Portuguese club's attacking line-up, but it also presents an opportunity for Manchester United to strengthen their squad and challenge for the Premier League title.