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Benfica refuses to sell Schjelderup: “Fundamental” to the club
🇳🇴 Norway /Sports

Benfica refuses to sell Schjelderup: “Fundamental” to the club

From Aftenposten · () Norwegian

Translated from Norwegian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Benfica says Andreas Schjelderup remains fundamental to its playing plans, even though he has started only one of the club’s eight matches since the World Cup.
  • The Norwegian winger has two years left on his contract, and Benfica wants an extension, but no agreement has been reached.
  • Schjelderup has a reported €100 million release clause, while Benfica president Rui Costa hopes he will renew rather than leave in the January transfer window.

Andreas Schjelderup has asked Portuguese media to stop spreading what he called lies, but his future at Benfica remains unresolved. The 22-year-old Norwegian winger became a major figure for the club before the World Cup and eventually started Norway’s quarterfinal against England after influencing matches from the bench.

Andreas is fundamental for Benfica and the way we want to play.

— Marco SilvaBenfica’s new coach explained why the club is managing Schjelderup’s return carefully.

Since the tournament, however, Schjelderup has started only one of Benfica’s eight matches. New coach Marco Silva said the player returned from the World Cup with a minor injury and had not taken part in the club’s preseason. Benfica has therefore brought him back gradually, while young Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni has impressed on the left side.

Schjelderup’s previous season and World Cup performances have attracted interest from clubs considered bigger than Benfica. He has two years remaining on his contract. Benfica wants to extend the agreement, but the club and player have not yet reached a deal.

Stop spreading lies in the media, please.

— Andreas SchjelderupSchjelderup responded to Portuguese reports about his position on Benfica’s contract offer.

The club is not indicating a willingness to sell. Schjelderup reportedly has a €100 million release clause, equivalent to 1.1 billion Norwegian kroner, and interested clubs have been told that this is the price. In practical terms, Benfica’s message has been that the player is not for sale.

The contract extension proposal is with him. There is no urgency, he is not in the final year of his contract. We are waiting for the player’s answer. When he returns from the World Cup, we will talk to him.

— Rui CostaThe Benfica president discussed the club’s renewal offer before the World Cup.

Schjelderup responded after Portuguese reports claimed he did not even want to hear Benfica’s contract proposal. “Stop spreading lies in the media, please,” he wrote. Benfica president Rui Costa has said the renewal offer is with the player and that there is no immediate urgency because Schjelderup is not entering the final year of his contract. Costa repeated in late August that he hopes Schjelderup renews. If he refuses, Benfica may have to sell him in January to maximize the financial return.

I hope Schjelderup renews.

— Rui CostaCosta reiterated his preference for the Norwegian winger to extend his contract.
About this summary

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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