Florentino made this Sunday the last game with Benfica’s nightgown. The midfielder is on his way to Burnley, England, and after the Eagles’ victory over Alverca had a moment of communion with the fans.
After the meeting, Bruno Lage also talked about the subject, assuming the feeling of gratitude he has for the player, also underlining the role of… Roger Schmidt.
«It is a difficult time. I gave him a hug because it is the farewell of a great player I had the opportunity to launch and who helped me a lot, both in team B, as in Benfica’s first team. In the resort I reinforced the importance of the Mister Roger Schmidt who knew how to reply in time for Benfica and for him to be the great player he is, ”he said.
The coach also revealed that the possible departure of the midfielder was being prepared since the end of last season and that the two had already talked about it in the US.
“I had a conversation with Tino at the Club World Cup and he realized that if a good opportunity appeared, he could have a different adventure from the one he once had. We made the reinforcement we did in midfield precisely for that. We knew that because of the quality that the Tino has and what he did last season at Champions, a team of a large league could come to seek him, ”he noticed.
Lage also assured that it is not due to lack of opportunities that the player leaves.
«The tino would always have space with me, because I like to have two competitive players by position. Manu’s coming was to have two different players. And the coming of Enzo went to prepare the departure of the tino and the injury of Manu, ”he concluded.
