Benfica right-back swaps Luz for Camp Nou

Barcelona yesterday announced that Nélson Semedo would be having a medical today (Friday) at the Catalan club ahead of signing for the La Liga giants from Portuguese champions Benfica.

Full details of the transfer were not released, but Semedo is expected to put pen to paper on a 5-year contract for a fee of €30 million plus a series of add-ons that potentially takes the final value of the deal close to €50m.

The departure of the Portugal right-back from Lisbon continues a trend akin to a mass exodus of top talent from the Primeira Liga. Benfica teammates Ederson and Victor Lindelöf were sold earlier this summer, Seleção No. 9 André Silva left Porto for Milan and Sporting are widely expected to sell at least two of Adrien Silva, William Carvalho and Gelson Martins.

With around 10 weeks still to go until the transfer window closes, this summer has already seen half a dozen Portuguese footballers change the country where they will be playing next season on the back of substantial investments for the paying club.

But how will Bernardo Silva, André Silva, Bruma, Bruno Fernandes, Rúben Semedo and Edgar Ié adapt to their new surroundings given everything entailed when swapping teams and leagues?

PortuGOAL’s Marino Peixoto assesses the factors that could influence the success or otherwise of the moves, including a (non-legally binding) “likelihood to succeed” verdict.

In an age where individual brilliance on the football field usually trumps team success when it comes to attracting the media glare, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to accumulate astonishing achievements that fill Portuguese people all over the world with a sense of pride.

The Madeira-born superstar reached the pinnacle of popularity among his compatriots one year ago as he helped Portugal lift the 2016 European Championship, the nation’s maiden trophy at a major tournament.

Bruno Alves headlines squad revolution

Rangers’ Manager Pedro Caixinha has been a busy man so far this close season, bringing eight new players to the club as he attempts to shape the team into an outfit which can better last season’s third-placed finish behind champions Celtic and second-placed Aberdeen.

The indications are that he’s not yet finished adding new blood to the light blues’ squad, but after  eight signings, it’s worth a look at the new arrivals and surmising as to what sort of impact they are likely to have on the team’s fortunes when the big kick-off arrives.