Benfica have reportedly decided not to press ahead with their pursuit of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Reinier Jesus.
According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, Benfica have decided to call off their pursuit of Real Madrid youngster Reinier Jesus after being unable to reach a suitable agreement with the Spanish and European champions.
Reinier Jesus joined Real Madrid in January 2020 from Brazilian club Flamengo. Arriving with the reputation of being one of the most exciting talents in South America, the 20-year-old became part of the Castilla outfit before joining Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal in the summer of 2020.
However, Reinier’s time in Germany proved a major dud as he failed to get regular game-time. Indeed, in two years at Signal Iduna Park, the Brazilian ace featured just 39 times in all competitions, most of which were appearances as a substitute. He scored and assisted one goal before returning to Real Madrid this summer.
While the 20-year-old continues to be rated by Los Blancos, there is no space for the youngster in the first-team setup at the moment and another loan move has been mooted. Several clubs in Spain expressed an interest in Reinier, but Benfica had emerged as the frontrunners to sign him on a temporary deal.
The Portuguese heavyweights are in the market for a new No. 10 this summer and had identified the Real Madrid starlet as a target. It had been reported that Reinier too was keen on a temporary switch to Benfica, and a move looked likely.
However, there has now been a twist in the tale as Benfica, and Real Madrid have been unable to reach an agreement on favourable terms. O Jogo claims that Benfica were looking for a loan deal with an option to buy. In addition, the Portuguese giants wanted Los Blancos to pay a part of the youngster’s wages.
But, those terms were unacceptable for Real Madrid, leading to talks breaking down and a move falling through. Reinier will now have to find a different club for himself, with the likes of Valencia and Real Betis showing an interest. Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma have also been linked and it will be interesting to see what lies ahead for the 20-year-old.