The Brazilian striker joined Benfica during the January transfer window and despite the limited time he has been given so far, he is showing huge potential. As a result, the second team in the Portuguese league can now enjoy seemingly more competition at the spearhead striker position. Who is Marcos Leonardo?
Benfica Lisbon and the hilarious investment in South American footballers. It’s a phrase that has been rhyming for several years now. The latest such acquisition is 20-year-old spike striker Marcos Leonardo, who arrived from Brazilian side Santos during the January transfer window.
The traditional Brazilian club suffered a great tragedy last year. For the first time in its existence, its fans experienced the aftertaste of relegation, which even a talented goalscorer could not prevent.
Marcos Leonardo had a great year individually. He managed to score thirteen league goals, which accounted for exactly one-third of all successful shots for the entire club. He added another eight goals in cup competitions. That’s twenty-one goals in forty-nine games across all competitions.
Santos brought up many a footballer to world football. Whether we look back to the full history behind Pele or to the not so distant one behind Neymar. To these we can add other names like Robinho, Felipe Anderson, Rodrygo, Alex Sandro or Thiago Maia.
Chelsea have already been fishing in Brazilian waters this summer, bringing two players from Santos. Angelo, however, headed immediately on loan to affiliate Strasbourg and David Washington, for the time being, despite the club’s huge squad, is only sitting on the substitutes’ bench. The transfer of Marcos Leonardo to Benfica seems like a very good one from the start.
Three league games and three goals. All in just 86 minutes. He had a cruel and unfortunate moment during the League Cup semi-final against Estoril. He spent less than thirty minutes on the pitch and, as the clash ended in a draw, penalty kicks decided the winner. The young Brazilian was one of two home players who failed in their attempt.
Finally a shooter?
Benfica needed a top striker like salt. After the summer departure of Gonçalo Ramos to PSG, who had a hand in twenty-six league goals last season, no such killer could be found.
Casper Tengstedt has scored three league goals, Arthur Cabral only two and former Slavia striker Petar Musa has not been very successful either. He scored five successful league goals. Marcos Leonardo thus equalled the goal tally of two players during the three games he played from the substitutes’ bench. The question is, how long will he be a substitute?
Another of the many successful investments?
The Brazilian youngster cost Benfica €25 million. That’s not a lot of money for a 20-year-old promising footballer at current prices. And what’s more? The Portuguese club can work damn well with youngsters like this.
Darwin Núñez, Enzo Fernández, Ederson, Angel di María, Ramires, David Luiz, João Félix, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Ramos, Axel Witsel, Nélson Semedo, Victor Lindelöf, Renato Sanches, Fábio Coentrao, Gonçalo Guedes, Luka Jovic, Jan Oblak, Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, or André Gomes. They are all other footballers who have passed through Benfica and, for a considerable amount of money, have made their way towards their next engagement.
Benfica can undoubtedly boast one of the best scouting and education of young players in the whole world.
Since the beginning of this century, Benfica has raised almost €1.3 billion by selling its footballers and, above all, it has become a great stepping stone for a move to an even more famous club. Will Marcos Leonardo be another in a string of successful investments?
Image source: Benfica