In modern football, there are two ways to go about building squads: you can buy talent, or you can develop talent. Few clubs rank ahead of Benfica in world football when it comes to developing talent and then selling players on for huge fees.
Over the past decade, the Lisbon giants have transformed their academy and produced some of the best players in world football. The Seixal campus is now a benchmark for smart recruitment, top-class coaching, and commercial awareness.
The Club’s blueprint
Located outside the city on the other side of the River Tejo, Benfica’s Seixal football campus is where you see the club’s philosophy at work. Coaches and officials work tirelessly to identify talented individuals early, then immerse them in the culture of the club so that they have the best chance of developing into world-class players.
The important thing about the club is that there is a clear pathway to the first team. João Félix graduated young before earning himself moves to Atlético Madrid and Barcelona, Rúben Dias captained the club before moving to Manchester City, and Bernardo Silva blazed a trail before both of them, transferring to France and then onto Manchester City, and has been one of Europe’s best midfielders over the past decade.
Global reach
On the back of financial and athletic success, Benfica’s academy reinforces Portugal’s national identity as a footballing hotbed. Benfica has been the first stop in Europe for countless superstars, such as Angel Di Maria, and strengthens Portugal’s reputation as an efficient talent incubator. It demonstrates that if clubs are managed in the right way, they can still compete with the traditionally larger clubs in England or Italy.
Financial stability built on development
What sets Benfica apart from their rivals in Portugal and even against some of the bigger clubs is their focus on converting talent into revenue. They know they will not be able to compete if they look to the transfer market to acquire talent. Especially in this era with financial fair play, their strategy has even more importance. Félix moved for around $120 million, while Rúben Dias moved for another huge fee. The proceeds from these sales are reinvested in scouting, infrastructure, and other parts of the youth development system.
Other factors affecting Benfica’s ability to compete that complement the academy include broadcasting revenue, sponsorships, and global merchandising. Portuguese football has to work harder than other countries in respect to these factors, but they have been able to take advantage of football’s growing popularity. For example, this popularity is evident in the digital world now across formats such as UK bingo football-themed games that are available online. They allow gamers to play slot or bingo games, mixing the world of iGaming and football through themed features. Digital gaming like this or football crypto tokens have grown due to the global appetite for football. Taking advantage of this growth allows clubs like Benfica to grow their commercial activities, in turn funding their footballing operations.
