Joao Palhinha’s future has still not been finalized. The saga surrounding the FC Bayern midfielder has been going on for weeks, and new information and developments keep emerging.
Most recently, it was reported that Palhinha had traveled to Portugal to undergo his physical. But then, while he was in Portugal, it was reported that there were still details to be worked out between the clubs.
Palhinha himself emphasized, when approached by the media at the airport, that he had a few days off and was visiting his family, whom he hadn’t seen in quite some time. While a basic agreement between Benfica and FC Bayern on a transfer is close, talks are still ongoing.
Eberl Provides an Update on Palhinha
Now, Max Eberl, FC Bayern’s sporting director, provided a brief update on the situation surrounding the midfielder—who was on loan to Tottenham last season—during the Super Cup match against BVB.
“He has two days off and is visiting his family. That’s his home, of course, and there’s a club there that’s interested in him. Let’s see what happens in the next few days,” Eberl told BILD.
Eberl did not want to go into further detail on the matter. The latest reports suggest that a transfer could go through for a fixed transfer fee in the range of 14–15 million euros. An additional five million euros in bonus payments would also be agreed upon, of which at least three million euros are fairly easy to achieve.
Perhaps the remaining issue is whether Benfica can pay the transfer fee in installments or if it is due immediately. In any case, Palhinha himself has already reached a full agreement with the historic Portuguese club and agreed to a pay cut. That’s a big step in the right direction. And since Benfica is the player’s preferred destination, Bayern will now also try to iron out the final details.
