By Melody Gross )
The goalkeeper ally to impress the striker; Tell him everything about Benfica in the Greek national team; He asked him not to think too much about the proposal and to pack his bags for Luz
Vangelis Pavlidis does not need to collect information about Benfica. The 25-year-old Greek striker from AZ Alkmaar, wanted by Roger Schmidt to replace Arthur Cabral and targeted by the Reds, has only had to listen to what Odysseus Vlachodimos has told him in recent days. The two play for the Greek national team, and as you know, the goalkeeper has been a strong ally of the Eagles. If Pavlidis was already excited about the opportunity to play for Benfica, he couldn't be more so.
Vlachodimos' departure from Benfica to Nottingham Forest, last summer, may not have been the most peaceful, after all it was due to an altercation with Roger Schmidt. Anatoly Trubin had just arrived in Luz, and under the threat of a new rival, the goalkeeper did not like to be criticized by the coach after the first match of the tournament with Boavista and confronted him after learning that he had lost his place to Samuel Soares. In the next round. He never played for the Reds again.
But if Vlachodimos left Benfica, Benfica did not leave him. The goalkeeper has always praised the club publicly, and only the circumstances caused by the problem with Schmidt prompted him to move to Nottingham Forest, when he stated several times that he would only change Benfica for a club from a top league but also with big ambitions.
Vlachodimos, almost a year on, maintains the best opinion of Benfica. From the infrastructure to the size of the club, from the quiet life in Lisbon to the possibility of playing in the Champions League, the goalkeeper spoke great things about Benfica to Pavlidis. And you know, what's more: he advised him not to waste time on Benfica's offer and to pack his bags for Lisbon.
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When he was at PSV Eindhoven, the coach also wanted to sign him; Last summer, the Dutch club, with its pockets full, rejected the transfer
Therefore, Pavlidis is more than convinced to play for the Reds. He knows that this has been Schmidt's desire for a long time and that Benfica tried to sign him last summer to replace Gonzalo Ramos. But a year ago, AZ Alkmaar did not want to replace him, after receiving around 60 million euros in deals for midfielder Tijani Reynders (Milan), left-back Milos Kerkes (Bournemouth), left-winger Jesper Karlsson (Bologna) and two central defenders. Biochema (Bologna) and Pantelis Hatzidiakos (Cagliari).
The Greek international striker has a good relationship with Max Huiberts, AZ Alkmaar's sporting director, and is confident that the clubs will understand each other. Benfica started with a bid of €15 million, AZ Alkmaar asking for more than €20 million and the meeting point could be €20 million, with Alkmaar reserving their rights in future transfers.
At the same time that Benfica is negotiating with Pavlidis, Benfica is trying to find a solution for Arthur Cabral. The Reds want to recoup their investment, as they paid 20 million euros to Fiorentina for the Brazilian striker, who has a market in England, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
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