Benfica is well on its way to signing André Luiz, Brazilian winger from Rio Ave.
The player, who this season has five goals and five assists in 17 games, arrived in Portuguese football in 2023/24, on loan from Flamengo to Estrela da Amadora.
Estrela’s coach was Sérgio Vieira. In conversation with A BOLA, the coach recalled the player he received this season.
Sérgio Vieira in 2023/24, in technical command of Estrela da Amadora – Photo André Alves
«When we brought him, he came from the Flamengo team and had a fabulous season, for the first time in Portuguese football, at just 21 years old and outside Brazil for the first time. This reflects his mentality a little. From the beginning, André confided in me that he was going to work hard to evolve and that he wanted to reach a big European club, to reach that level», recalls Sérgio Vieira.
From the beginning, André confided in me that he was going to work hard to improve and that he wanted to reach a big European club.
Regarding André Luiz’s characteristics, Sérgio Vieira’s analysis seems to be in line with Benfica’s ideas to reinforce the squad in January. «André has something that is natural about him, he is very fast, explosive in the first meters and then also over long distances. Technically it is refined, of a very high level and with a stature and scope [79 kg e 1,85 m] interesting for the position.”
André has something that is natural about him, he is very fast, explosive in the first meters and then also over long distances. Technically it is refined, of a very high level.
And what was missing from the winger when he came from Brazil? «We managed to instill in him something that he lacked: tactical knowledge of the game, with and without the ball, playing with the ball in indoor and outdoor spaces, improving decision-making, support and reading the game before making a decision, depending on the positioning of teammates and the ball. And he grew. More than a season and a half has passed, I’ve been following this half at Rio Ave and I see that the evolution has continued”, says the 42-year-old coach.
Sérgio Vieira considers that André Luiz is a player “prepared” to deal with the size and demands of a club like Benfica. «I consider it, and with the characteristics to play any position in the attack, whether as a striker in more central spaces, or in the lateral spaces as a winger on the outside or looking more often for interior spaces.»
He has the characteristics to play any position in attack.
Emotionally, Sérgio Vieira also sees André Luiz prepared, if Benfica actually completes the signing: «Yes, he is prepared, and I say this because I know his mentality very well. Before traveling to Estrela da Amadora I had a conversation with him. He had practically no use in Flamengo’s main team, but he wanted to be successful, he had a lot of ambition. He gave me a lot of confidence and even said that he would fight to get to a big club. Despite some inconsistency and irregularity in his tactical performances, in his first season in Portugal, outside Brazil, he scored four goals and was important. Technically and physically, he always had the ability to unbalance. Arriving at 21 years old and achieving what he achieved was already an indicator that he could reach a higher level.”
