Manuel Boto, a name synonymous with Benfica’s financial integrity, has made a significant move. The former president of the Fiscal Council, who helped revise the club’s statutes back in 2010, is now a key figure in Martim Mayer’s bid for leadership. Boto is slated to head the Remuneration Committee on Mayer’s election slate. It marks a moment of endorsement from a club veteran towards a relatively fresh face.
Boto shared the story of his initial encounter with Mayer. “Sometime before summer,” he recalled, “a mutual friend set up a breakfast meeting for us.” At that point, Boto admitted, Mayer was the only presidential candidate he didn’t truly know. “My curiosity was piqued,” the economist explained. “I’m always ready to serve Benfica. So, I went and listened.” He walked away with a very positive first impression.
What truly struck Boto were Mayer’s “fresh and innovative ideas.” Mayer seemed less interested in dwelling on the past and more focused on what lay ahead. Boto noted that Mayer clearly understood the club and its corporate structure, the SAD. “He showed a deep grasp of principles, ethics, and values that really resonated with me,” Boto revealed. “I felt then that the club’s future would pass through him and the team he introduced that day.” For Boto, time has only confirmed that initial feeling.
Through the summer months, Boto closely followed the election campaign. His conviction only grew stronger. “The belief that he was the right person for Benfica’s future took root,” he stated. Any lingering doubts vanished at the General Assembly, during the approval of the Statutes Regulation. There, Boto saw Mayer place the club’s interests above any personal ambitions. This display solidified Boto’s support for Mayer, a detail highlighted by the Reds’ member number 2794.
Given his strong belief, Boto didn’t hesitate when Mayer asked him to join his team for the elections on the 25th. “I hadn’t shared my decision to vote for Mayer with many people,” he said, “just family and a few close friends, none connected to his campaign.” The invitation to lead the Remuneration Committee came as a complete surprise. “It’s a great honor,” Boto affirmed. “I didn’t think twice before saying yes. After all, Benfica has been in my blood since I was a child.”