Rafa Silva will substantially reduce his salary to return to Benfica. At Besiktas, the Portuguese winger earned something like six million euros clean per season and, at the Eagles, he will earn roughly what he earned before leaving – approximately €2.2 million, in his last contract.
The 32-year-old player arrived in Lisbon on Wednesday, despite having “escaped” from journalists, not leaving Humberto Delgado Airport through any of the usual doors.
I could have given money to Benfica if I had left
A year before leaving Luz, Rafa could have left Benfica, as there was a proposal from Qatar for 10 million euros and a million-dollar contract for the player. Despite this, Rui Costa spoke to Rafa and asked him to stay, which he agreed to. The president of the Eagles preferred to take the risk of a possible departure at the end of the striker’s contract, but holding on to an important weapon, which would prove to be true, as Rafa had his best season in 2023/24.
Despite having chosen not to renew, Rafa demonstrated exemplary behavior at the club, something decisive for Rui Costa’s commitment to making him return.
