Aguiar to return to Benfica

[Jeffery S.]

Word from the man is that Camacho at Benfica wants Aguiar back for next season as they look to build a team to win the league and do well in Champions. Aguiar had actually been dealing with Leiria to extend the loan another year, it was even announced by the press, but it seems Camacho has reconsidered and wants a wider, stronger side to handle all the competitions they should be in (have to get through a qualifying tie to make the Champions first round, draw not to be done until July).

The team has a training camp in Jerez, south of Spain, starting 1st week of July. Then to Switzerland to play friendlies vs other Portuguese teams in the Servette stadium. Back to Portugal late July.

Even if he were to be called for Canada for GC i don't think that given this news he'd accept, since it coincides with a crucial pre-season where he'll be fighting hard to take a starter's spot.

Benfica have Mantorras and Nuno Gomes possibly injured for the early part of the season, and Geovanni, loaned from Barça, is to return to Cruzeiro (help pay for our Argie left back Sorín, who belongs to the Brazilan side). Benfica have signed keeper Ricardo from Boavista and are looking at Junior at Parma. They'll also need to think about more strikers and wings given striker injuries and loss of Geovanni.

[Luis_Rancagua]

Here is the Article in Portuguese straight from MaisFutebol. Please translate:

[ 25/06/2003 | 13:54 ] Cláudia Nunes

Jogador diz ainda não ter sido contactado pelo clube
U. Leiria: Fernando Aguiar «muito feliz» com eventual interesse do Benfica

Fernando Aguiar está encantado com a possibilidade de voltar a jogar pelo Benfica. O médio esteve emprestado à U. Leiria na passada temporada, mas deverá estar incluído na lista dos reforços pretendidos por Camacho.

O jogador afirma que ainda não foi contactado pelo clube, mas não esconde a vontade de voltar a vestir a camisola das águias. «Ainda não me confirmaram nada. Não houve qualquer contacto do clube, mas, se for verdade que o treinador está interessado em mim, vejo a possibilidade com muito bons olhos», reconhece. «O Benfica está a crescer ainda mais. É uma boa oportunidade para ser campeão e para fazer uma boa campanha na Liga dos Campeões. Estou muito feliz.»

Fernando Aguiar acredita que pode «ser uma opção válida» no plantel encarnado e promete «lutar por um lugar na equipa, se não a titular, pelo menos tentando sempre a titularidade».

O jogador tinha já sido abordado pelos responsáveis da U. Leiria no sentido de continuar. No entanto, lembra que «as coisas ainda não estavam definidas no Benfica», nessa altura. «Abordaram-me sobre essa hipótese. Eu disse que estava disponível, mas, se é verdade o interesse, penso que isso ficará sem efeito», diz.

[David C.]

Online Translation:

Player says still not to have been contactado by the club U. Leiria: Fernando Aguiar «very happy» with eventual interest of the Benfica

Fernando Aguiar is delighted with the possibility of come back to playing by the Benfica. The medium one was lent to the U. Leiria in the past season, but should be included in the list of the reinforcements intended by Camacho.

The player affirms that still he was not contactado by the club, but does not he conceal at ease of he come back it he dress to camisola of the eagles. «Still did not they confirm me nothing. It had not any contacto of the club, but, if will go truth that the coach is interested in me, I see the possibility with very good eyes», recognizes.

«The Benfica is it grow still more. It is a boa opportunity to be champion and to do a boa campaign in the League of the Champions. I am very happy »

Fernando Aguiar believes that is able to «be a valid option» in the plantel embodied and promises «fight to a place in the equip, if not to captain, at least trying always the titularidade».

The player already had been approached by the responsible from the U. Leiria in the sense of continue. In the however, remembers that «the things still they were not defined in the Benfica», in that height. «ABORDARAM me about that hypothesis. I said that was available, but, if is truth the interest, I think that that stayed without effect», says.

[Luis_Rancagua]

Holger, for the love of God, please bring back Fernando Aguiar!!!!!!!! Aguiar should have been given a call to the Nats from a long time. I really hope that the CSA re-evaluate their options.

[Gordon]

quote:Originally posted by Luis_Rancagua

Holger, for the love of God, please bring back Fernando Aguiar!!!!!!!! Aguiar should have been given a call to the Nats from a long time. I really hope that the CSA re-evaluate their options.


It would be nice to see him show up if and when he is called. According to Jeffery's post, he would not likley show for the Gold Cup. His reasons are perfectly understandable, as they were last time when he had just transfered to Benfica. But really, if you are not able to show up, and the coach has not been impressed with you in the past, why should one be getting the call? While I think he has earned a call-up, and that Canada is not deep enough to leave him on the sidelines, I can certainly see Holger's point. The probability is that Fernando's spot, whether starting regularly or occasionally, will almost assuredly never be 100% secure at Benfica. If this is his priority - and I am not knocking him if it is - then he will never really fit into the Canada picture will he? I hope Holger calls him for the Gold Cup, and I hope that Fernando accepts. I think if he negotiated an early departure he could basically show his resolve to play for Canada and meet his needs/obligations/challenges at Benfica too.

The opinions expressed above are just that.

[ray]

I think all Aguiar supporters want is that he be considered by Holger for the national team. I don't think we can say Holger has exactly had an open mind about this. Of course there are eventualities like Aguiar trying to make the Benfica squad but there are no guarantees he'll make it. Fernando could be on the bench or be returned to Liera. I'd like to see more from Holger than merely becoming interested in a player when he goes to a big club.

[Jeffery S.]

I think for tourneys like Gold Cup the team has to send in an advance squad a few weeks in advance, then define the final roster a minimum time before it starts. We should be getting the Can squad v. soon. So this should not necessarily sway Holger right now.

Another thing would be having Fernando in the pool for qualifying, as at least those matches will be FIFA dates and he could travel with no club committments. Maybe for a few keys dates he could be useful, as neither he nor any one player would be called for every match I don't think, the travelling pressure is too high.

Another consideration is that from Lisbon his flights could in fact be quite convenient to certain venues for games, whether Canada or in C. America, Caribbean.

As it says in the article, the word is not from the club. The message has come to him directly from Camacho, probably via his agent. Remember that Camacho only just confirmed his new contract at Benfica a few days ago, so this is neither late nor necessarily unexpected, he was waiting to know what the club could offer him in terms of signing money before designing his squad for an ambitious season. Benfica has not won the league for 10 years, an eternity for the Lisbon side.

[Canuck Oranje]

Strategically, it may be in Benfica's own interests to have Aguiar play regularly for Canada during WCQ if he is not a regular starter. More game situations means better game conditioning when he is needed.

I am not sure if Aguiar would be considered in a full strength starting 11 for Canada; but, I do believe his experience (like Pesch) would be a valuable ingredient with all the talented young players we are developing.

But given the conflict noted above regarding the Gold Cup, I doubt Aguiar would want to participate in that tournament.

[Canuck Oranje]

de Guzman and Brennan rank ahead in my books.

[Canuck Oranje]

de Guzman and Brennan rank ahead in my books.

[Canuck Oranje]

Also somewhere in there would be Klukowski, Imhof and Hutchinson but maybe not above.

[Canuck Oranje]

Also somewhere in there would be Klukowski, Imhof and Hutchinson but maybe not above.

[Canuck Oranje]

Don't get me wrong, I think Aguiar would be an excellent addition to a full strength national team.

As for which league is stronger, there are arguments for each of the league listed and that can change by year and how you do the rating. And then you have strong teams in weaker leagues. And how do you compare players starting regularly to players on the squad but in a higher league.

In the end it boils down the players themselves and the team formation and the style of play.

Nevertheless, we have a lot of excellent young players coming up. An experienced player like Aguiar could anchor some of that talent.

[Gian-Luca]

This is an interesting development. Recently on bigsoccer.com, our own Doyle G. had asked Portugese fans what they thought of Fernando Aguiar, with the general consensus in the replies being that he was good enough to play for a team in mid-level Portugese first division team, but lacked the sufficient skill to play for a club like Benfica. I guess Benfica's coach thinks otherwise.

Even the wolf can learn. Even the sheep can turn. Even the frog can become at last the prince. - Peter Hammill, Over (1977)

[DoyleG]

Here's a Big Soccer thread I started to get opinions on him.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53328

[Jeffery S.]

I've been reading the fan forum at record.pt and views on Aguiar by Benfica fans are varied.

Some wonder why Ednilson, who plays in a similar spot, is being loaned out and Aguiar coming in, as the former is considered to have a better tactical sense. One even felt that Aguiar was a bit of a tank compared to the Formula 1 Ednilson. Others agree with Ednislon going as he is younger and needs to find a place to start, not play just 10 games a year. Meaning that Aguiar might also be fighting, as Ednilson did, for a starting spot. 10 games next year, not much. I think it will be more, but perhaps the thinking is logical given who's ahead of him in the depth chart there.

Other comments agree with his coming back for various reasons. Most agree that he is the natural sub for Petit the Portugal international, as indeed he was in the half season he played there. Petit also has a tendency to get injured.

More feel that Aguiar's physical strength is an advantage for the type of hard game away vs. a modest team where Benfica has to show more fight, having dropped too many points to modest squads in recent years. Other positive comments, similar to those just mentioned, look to the possible tough Champions run, thinking that he will be key to perhaps start and especially come on as a sub and strengthen the team in the crunch. On a similar line of thought, with a very senior back line (Helder, Thiago, the possibility of Junior signing, and esp if Hierro signs, something that has come out today in the press though I just heard Camacho on the radio live from his Ibiza holiday suggest that the team's resources are limited and they couldn't pay the just-bumped ex-Madrid captian anything close to what he got at Real) and Aguiar in the middle, the team will have tremendous experience in defensive positions.

A final reason why fans show personal sympathy for Aguiar is that he is openly a Benfica fan, he breathes the team colours and speaks with great motivation about the team's future. Essentially that he is a Benfica man, something they feel they need for the team to be more spirited.