Striker Rafa, aged 32, reinforces the professional football team from Sport Lisboa and Benfica. The new owner of the Eagles’ number 27 jersey moved from Besiktas to Glorioso, signing a contract valid until 2028.
Officialized and presented this Thursday, January 22nd, the advanced spoke about the journey that brought him back to Estádio da Luz, where, he stressed, he wants to give sequel to good memories e help the team.
“I’m basically the same. I miss home, I wanted to go home. A possibility arose a few days ago of this happening and that is what ended up happening. And I’m so grateful to be here and to be back“, he stated in exclusive interview with Editor.
ROUTE
Hired in 2016 to SC Braga – just over a month after becoming European champion with Portugal –, Rafa made his debut for Sport Lisboa e Benfica against Aroucaon September 9 of that year, in a triumph, for 1-2already 4th round of a season (16/17) in which he would win the first 2 titles with an eagle on his chest: National Championship and Portuguese Cup.
Counting on this duel at the Arouca Municipal Stadium, in 8 seasons in which the striker was at Luz, played 326 games: Championship (206), Champions League (48), Europa League (21), Portuguese Cup (29), League Cup (19) e Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup (3).
As fate would have it, Benfica’s farewell was precisely against their debut opponent: the Arouca. This time in Luz Stadiumon May 12, 2024, Rafa scored two goals in the 5-0 victory against the Arouquenses, in the 33rd round of the Betclic League 2023/24.
On this route at Benfica, Rafa scored 94 goals (the first was against Tondela, in 16/17) – 64 in the Championship, 13 in the Champions League, 4 in the Europa League, 10 in the Portuguese Cup, 2 in the League Cup e 1 in the Super Cup Candido de Oliveira – and celebrated 7 titles: 3 Championships, 1 Portuguese Cup and 3 Super Cups Cândido de Oliveira.
From Luz to Turkey, in his first season at Besiktas (2024/25), the striker recorded 18 goals in 49 gamesand, already on 25/26, added 16 matches, in which he scored 5 goals.
Before his first spell at Luz, the Portuguese striker participated in 127 matches for SC Bragawhich he defended between 2013 and 2016. During this period, jersey number 27 was the author of 26 accurate shots.
His senior debut came at the service of Feirenseemblem for which he lined up in 47 gameshaving marked 11 goals in the 2012/13 season.
