A shadow has fallen over one of European football’s most historic clubs. Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, is now a formal suspect in a serious investigation. The issue centers around a 70,000 euro payment tied to the transfer of player German Conti, as first reported by the Correio da Manhã newspaper. This payment from Lokomotiv Moscow to Benfica has raised questions about whether European laws regarding sanctions against Russian interests were broken.
Conti, a central defender, had a winding path before landing in Moscow. He left Benfica in 2020, first on loan to Atlas in Mexico. After that, he spent time on loan with two Brazilian clubs, Bahia and América Mineiro. His final departure from Benfica happened in January 2023 when he signed permanently with Lokomotiv Moscow. It’s during this period, surrounding his move to Russia, that the controversial payment took place.
At the time Lokomotiv Moscow made this 70,000 euro payment to settle an old debt with Benfica, financial transfers to or from Russia were either frozen or under strict watch. Benfica quickly noticed irregularities with the money. To avoid any further issues, the club decided to return the 70,000 euros. This action shows the sensitive nature of dealing with any Russian-linked transactions during that period.
Now, the Central Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DCIAP) is looking closely at the entire deal. They are investigating a possible crime of money laundering. Rui Costa will be questioned as the representative of the club’s sports company. He had initially asked to postpone his interrogation in July. His reason was valid: he needed to be present for the public presentation of the squad for the upcoming 2025/2026 season.