Benfica don set one condition for dem to sell Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis to Barcelona. According to Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo, dem go only release am if any offer wey dem no fit refuse land for table. Barcelona dey hunt for centre-forward this summer, and Pavlidis don become one of di options.
Barcelona main target na Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, but Atletico don turn aggressive. Dem even lodge official complaint with FIFA, accusing Barca of harassment. So di Catalans don widen dia search, and plenty new names enter frame. One of dem na 27-year-old Pavlidis.
But Benfica board no dey see any sale as likely. Di Portuguese club don talk say dem no go shift unless di offer too sweet. As of late July, no official bid don reach di management of Portugal most decorated club for dia top scorer.
According to A Bola, wey close to Benfica, Pavlidis go holiday feeling anxious and frustrated. E don doubt di club plans, believing say board wan sell am to cover financial losses from failing to reach Champions League. E worriment don grow because of goalscoring drought wey yield only three goals between February and May.
But things don swing dramatically. Di Greek striker score four goals for di preliminary round of Europa League. Juventus too enquire about signing am, but when Benfica demand 40 million euros, di Italian club comot from deal.
Barcelona don dey track Pavlidis for some time. E don score hat-trick against dem for UEFA Champions League. New report from Portugal confirm Barca interest. But Benfica no dey willing to part with key player. Dem dey interested instead to sell Franjo Ivanovic.
Pavlidis don show why e dey valuable. For di second leg of Europa League second qualifying round against Swiss side St. Gallen, e score four goals to lead Benfica to comeback victory. Benfica don lose first leg 2-1, so dem need response at Estádio da Luz. E score for 10th minute from Rafa Silva pass. Then between 55th and 74th minute, e complete four-goal haul. Second goal come from slick passing with Kaminsky, third na penalty-box instinct from scramble after Alexander Bah assist, and fourth from penalty spot after Frokaj foul Richard Ríos. E blast di kick for upper right corner. Clément Lenglet cap scoring before coach Mauro Silva sub am for 77th minute to standing ovation.
AS learn say Pavlidis dey among names Barcelona sporting department, led by Deco, dey consider. Alvarez still top priority, but Pavlidis na leading alternative if move for Argentine impossible. Any deal depend on other factors, including Ferran Torres future. Barcelona dey optimistic to extend Torres contract but don’t take eye off Greek international.
Negotiation with Benfica no go straight. Dem see am as key part of plans and get little incentive to sell after season don begin. Benfica next challenge na Hearts for Europa League playoff round, first leg for Aug. Hearts finish two points behind Celtic for Scottish Premiership last season.
Pavlidis don be one of di most productive strikers outside Europe top five leagues. E record third consecutive 30-goal campaign for 2025-26, and don surpass 20-goal mark for five straight seasons, first with AZ Alkmaar and now Benfica. E score 25 for 2021-22, 22 for 2022-23, and 33 for 2023-24. Benfica pay around $21 million to sign am, and e don justify am with 30 goals each for im first two seasons for Portugal. Dat consistency na why Barcelona dey view am as leading attacking alternative.
