The eagle has landed once more. Pany Varela, the dynamic Portuguese winger, officially sealed his return to Benfica this Thursday. It’s a homecoming story, really. He comes back to the Reds after a spell in Saudi Arabia. Our sources had hinted at this move, and now it’s all confirmed. Varela signed a deal that ties him to the club until 2027.
This isn’t his first dance with Benfica. He spent part of his younger years developing his skills in their youth system. Between 2008 and 2011, he even played some matches for the main team. It feels like a full circle journey for the Portuguese international.
Varela’s recent stop was Al Nassr. He spent just one season with the Saudi club. But that chapter is now closed. Al Nassr is actually shutting down its futsal division. This paved the way for Varela to come back to Portugal. He’s also worn the jerseys of Fundão and Sporting during his career in his home country.
This return isn’t just sentimental. It’s also a big deal financially. Our colleagues at Record reported that Pany Varela’s new contract is one of the biggest ever seen in Portuguese futsal. Benfica clearly showed how much they wanted him back.