The heat is on in the Benfica presidential race. João Noronha Lopes, a candidate, made a big promise this past Friday. He declared that Bernardo Silva would definitely play for Benfica. This would happen if Noronha Lopes wins the club’s October elections. His comments also addressed remarks made by coach Bruno Lage yesterday during a press conference.
Noronha Lopes positioned himself as Benfica’s steady hand. He said, “I will always be the stability factor at Benfica.” He then outlined his immediate priorities. “What I want is for Bruno Lage to focus on training,” he added. Noronha Lopes wants the team to be in first place when he takes office.
He wasn’t just making a casual promise about Silva. “I have my own contract ready for Bernardo Silva,” Noronha Lopes stated clearly. He sees Silva as more than just another talented player fans want. “He symbolizes the mystique, the dedication,” Noronha Lopes explained. Silva also carries “an enormous love for Benfica.” “He is a Benfica fan like us,” the candidate affirmed. Noronha Lopes hopes Silva can achieve the same success at Benfica as he has found elsewhere. “If I am president of Benfica, Bernardo will be a Benfica player,” he declared. Both sides share this deep desire, he noted.
“Bernardo wants to return to Benfica, and I want him to return,” Noronha Lopes emphasized. He plans to “create all the conditions for Benfica.” He seeks to surround himself with “winners like Bernardo.” Noronha Lopes stressed that the club, often called “the red club,” needs “a sports project with vision and strategy for the future.”
When asked about other players waiting for contracts at Benfica, Noronha Lopes chose to keep some cards close. He replied, “At the right time, I will present my proposals and my ideas to the Benfica fans.”
He also turned his attention to the club’s financial health. “We have to get a handle on this,” Noronha Lopes insisted. He warned that Benfica “cannot continue year after year to incur situations that could jeopardize the club’s sustainability.” The club’s financial future needs immediate attention, he stressed.