Jordi Alba is in the picture at Benfica to succeed Alejandro Grimaldo, who has left for Bayer Leverkusen. This is reported by various media, including A bola. The interest in Alba may have consequences for a possible transfer of AZ back Milos Kerkez, in whom Benfica has also been interested for a long time.
In May, Alba announced his retirement from Barcelona after eleven years. His contract ran until mid-2024, but the left back and Barça have reached an agreement on the settlement of the agreement. Alba could no longer count on a base place under trainer and former teammate Xavi this season and said goodbye to the Barcelona fans on Sunday during the home game with Real Mallorca (3-0).
After this season, Alba is transfer-free, so he has the choice of clubs. In addition to Benfica, Internazionale and Atlético Madrid are also mentioned as possible new employers, although a switch to the Saudi Arabian competition would also not be unthinkable. Transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano reported at the end of May that Alba will calmly list his options.
It has been known for some time that Benfica also sees Kerkez as a possible replacement for Grimaldo. The Portuguese Record announced last week that AZ wants to receive at least twenty million euros for the nineteen-year-old Hungarian. His father indicated at the end of April that Schmidt’s team would be a ‘very good option’. However, the question is whether Benfica is willing to pay that much money for Kerkez. As a result, alternatives are also being looked at, such as Alba.
Related
More sports news
