Beast King Costa

Chapter 256 Preparations for the New Season

During the extra training period in the Azores, Diego not only paid attention to a series of transfer operations of Benfica, but also paid attention to the situation of his home team Braga.

The UEFA Champions League draw for the new season has already been announced.

Braga, No.3 in the Portuguese Super League, will play in the final round of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. Their opponent is the Austrian Vienna team in the Austrian League.

Diego doesn't know anything about this team, but I believe that Braga has such great ambitions for the Portuguese Super League and the Champions League in the new season, so he must have a detailed understanding of the opponents in the Champions League qualifiers.

Why do you say that Braga is ambitious in the new season?

I have to say about Braga's signings during the offseason.

Under the needle of Jorge Mendes, goalkeeper Danimaro, who played for La Coruña in La Liga, moved to Braga.

Dani Malo's transfer fee is as high as 340 million euros.

Diego said he couldn't understand this operation...

In the Braga goalkeeper position, Paul Santos, the Portuguese national-level goalkeeper, has been playing steadily.

Even if Braga needs to fight on the third line in the new season, the rotation of the goalkeeper position is not large. Even if Paul Santos is allowed to fight on the third line at full time, there is no problem. Pretty good.

Perhaps, after the arrival of Dani Maro, Eduardo wants to enter the rotation of Braga's first team in the new season, basically it can be said that it is impossible.

But Diego did not see the news of Eduardo leaving Braga. Maybe he is still willing to stay in Braga B team and seek opportunities.

In the guard position, Braga's signings are also quite large.

Last season, Amadora's main central defender Maurizio, the player of the best defensive team in the Peruvian League, Alberto Rodriguez who played for the Peruvian League Lima Union, the central defender Irinu of the Porto B team, West Second Division Mallorca's main left back Pait and Dynamo Moscow's right back Jorge Luis moved to cast.

Among them, Maurizio's transfer fee is as high as 500 million euros!He replaced Fabiano Rosato, who went to play in La Liga, and Paul Jorge formed the main central defender combination, fighting for the team's third line together.

The reinforcement of the midfield position is not great.

Braga introduced two defensive midfielders Ricardo Chavez and Andra, and negotiated with Porto to rent two players Marshall and Bruno Gama who were not the main players in Porto's first team.

Last season's main midfield core, Spaniard Andres Madrid returned to play in La Liga in the new season, but obviously, Jesuardo Ferreira is going to let Van Dinho take on more organizational tasks. Neo himself is an existence with both offense and defense.

What surprised Diego was the frontcourt position.

Joao Thomas Gameyon's double center configuration finally existed in Jesualdo Ferreira's ideal paradise-after he recovered from injury, Joao Thomas actually chose to leave Portugal and went to the Middle East to pan for gold. He joined the Saudi Arabian team Gili Ahly.

It is reported that in order to get Joao Thomas, Gili Ahli paid Braga a transfer fee of up to 800 million US dollars, and gave Joao Thomas three times the annual salary!

Despite the departure of Joao Thomas, Jesuardo Ferreira's ideal combination of dual all-round centers failed to take shape.

But Joao Thomas went to the Middle East League to seek gold, which is definitely a win-win for himself and the Braga club.

Joao Thomas, who has just recovered from a serious injury, will be 31 years old in the new season. No one can guarantee how he can return to his competitive state. Moreover, his contract will expire in two years. Should Jia renew his contract?Or let him go free?

No matter how it is handled, it seems inappropriate.

However, at this moment, Joao Thomas voluntarily asked to leave the Portuguese Super League and go to the Middle East to seek gold. Not only will he be able to obtain a high-value contract, but Braga will also be able to reap a huge transfer fee from Joao Thomas—if Joao Thomas If Thomas transfers in Europe, the transfer fee will definitely not be so high, and he may even face his former owner in the Portuguese Super League, which Braga fans do not want to see.

Therefore, for the departure of Joao Thomas, both Braga players and Braga fans unanimously gave their blessings.

After Joao Thomas left, the only striker under Jesúardo Ferreira who could be used was Diego's deal, and Mayon was obtained.

Therefore, at the forward position, Braga continued to make signings.

Polish big center Marcin Chimister, Brazilian young players Ze Carlos and Mesir joined.

Not only that, Braga also hired Joao Pinto, a versatile frontcourt player from Boavista, to supplement the team's bench depth at the second forward position.

This can be said to be the time when Braga, a small club, has the thickest lineup.

Throughout the intermission period, Braga spent 2600 million euros in the transfer market for signings. Of course, they sold players for more than 3000 million euros, which would not exacerbate the pressure on the team's financial deficit.

Although the recruitment work has been very sufficient, the outside world is unanimously not optimistic about Braga's "First Brother Tour" of the Champions League in the new season.

Although Braga's opponent Vienna, Austria, is not well-known in the final round of the UEFA Champions League qualifying round, even the media in Portugal are pessimistic about Braga's inability to break into the Champions League group stage.

From those remarks, it can be seen that the Portuguese media are basically "brainless boasts" from the three giants of the Portuguese Super League.

"The Champions League group stage, exclusive to the three giants of the Portuguese Super League!" "

"In the new season's UEFA Champions League group stage, the Portuguese Super League may be left with two strong teams to compete! "

"Braga needs to prepare for the Europa League in advance! "

"Austrian giants Vienna, the new season is directly aimed at the first Champions League group stage in team history! "

……

This made Diego angry.

"Aren't these media looking down on others?! Although Braga is not a big club, but facing a little-known Austrian team, can they always reach the Champions League group stage?"

"Why are you so angry now?"

David Luiz packed up and saluted: "The first round of the Champions League qualifying match in Braga, isn't it played in Austria on August 8? Then we can see how the first round of the two sides fight, and we can probably know, Braga Can Cana make it to the group stage of the Champions League."

"Anyway! I think Braga will definitely be able to enter the Champions League group stage! I am very sure!"

"Don't be sure, pack your luggage quickly, we are the earliest flight tomorrow morning."

David Luiz reminded Diego: "Don't forget, coach Fernando Santos has sent everyone a text message - report for the preparation period. If anyone is late, he will go to practice with the B team. The new season will also be Don’t even think about playing as the main force.”

"So fast!"

Diego looked at the calendar.

Unknowingly, today is already July 7th, and David Luiz and I have been training in the Azores for half a month, and we have to return to Lisbon tomorrow to report to the Benfica club to start the new season. ready for battle.

During this period, Diego and David Luiz also met many European stars, and even participated in their joint training, experiencing their high-level competitive ability.

The two boys were all amazed.

Although they have plenty of time to realize their talents, they are still far behind those stars who have already realized their talents one by one.

Pirlo even gave David Luiz some advice: "Young man, you can give it a try and play in the defensive midfield position. Your long passes are quite accurate, your long shots are quite threatening, and your defensive range is sufficient." Big. Definitely can become a midfielder with both offense and defense.”

Although David Luiz didn't say anything about this, Diego could clearly feel it. David Luiz then began to practice more long passes, especially the ability to deliver long passes under intense physical confrontation .

The "shaggy-headed" David Lewis of later generations has always been a versatile player in the backcourt. Whether it is a central defender position, a midfielder position, or even a full-back position, he is competent.

But in the new season, will Fernando Santos put David Luiz in the center back position or in the midfielder position?
This is temporarily unknown.

Most of the Portuguese Super League teams began to assemble in mid-July to start training and preparing for the new season. Since Benfica did not have the heavy responsibility of the Champions League in the new season, and many international players played in the World Cup in Germany, it was not until July. The preparation period for the new season began in late August.

The first round of the Portuguese Super League in the new season will be held on September 9th. Benfica's first opponent in the Portuguese Super League in the new season is Boavista, and they will play away games.

Therefore, the preparation period left for the entire Benfica team is very ample, and the old players and new players have plenty of time to get familiar with, adjust, and adapt.

According to the notice given to each player by the team affairs, the team will go to Spain for training and preparations, and will play against several La Liga teams, so as to adapt the team's new lineup and new tactics.

What Diego looks forward to most is that Benfica will play against Valencia!

"Bat Legion" Valencia!
The home team of David Villa and David Silva!
Of course, at this time, David Silva had not yet achieved the reputation of a Spanish midfield master. He was just a young man who had just joined the Valencia first team.

But Diego is looking forward to playing against the young David Silva and David Villa, who has not yet taken over the Spanish No. 7 jersey from Raul.

However, Diego didn't expect one thing.

I still had some grudges with Benfica's core players last season.

Therefore, after returning to the club, Diego's little life was not as peaceful as he imagined.

(End of this chapter)