From Ríos to João Veloso. Loans force Marco Silva to rethink Benfica

Melhor was difficult. Almost a month after the closure of a particularly agitated transfer market, Benfica has reason to smile, in this particular case, at the results presented, so far, by the policy of loans outlined by Rui Costa's leadership.

Players such as Richard Ríos, Franjo Ivanovic or João Veloso did not enter Marco Silva's plans for the new sports season of 2026/27, but have taken advantage of their opportunities to ‘give cards’, with a view to a return to the Stadium of Light or, eventually, a definitive exit, in the not too distant future.

Not everything is a ‘sea of roses’ (the case of James Parent is particularly worrying), but the signs are positive. With that in mind, the Sports to Minute presents the situation of the soccer players given by the incarnates, until the first break for international commitments of the time.

Richard Ríos, Franjo Ivanovic and João Veloso already ‘do damage’

Richard Ríos it cost Benfica just over a year ago €27 million. It is true that the investment did not have the expected return, but also that it did not delay in gaining ownership, in Al-Ittihad Jeddah, and even already adds an assistance (for Steven Bergwijn's goal, in the victory over Al-Faisaly, by 1-3).

Franjo Ivanovic has felt more difficulty in achieving the same status, in Lens, and has even experienced a 'psychological whip', in the face of the resignation of Dino Toppmoller. The scenario is not at all ideal, but already takes two goals (in the triumph over Auxerre, by 5-2, and in the tie to two balls with Le Mans).

Already John Veloso is one of the main figures of the start of the Moreirense season, since it counts already scored a goal (in equality to two balls with Sporting Braga) and gave another two to score (to Francisco Domingues, in the victory over Casa Pia, by 0-1, and to Dinis Pinto, in the defeat before FC Porto, by 1-2).

Tiago Gouveia and company soon claimed ownership

There are also a number of players who, even if they do not make concrete contributions to goals, are already indisputable holders, such as James Gouveia (participated in five of Gençlerbirligi's six games), Diogo Prioste (aligned in four of Gil Vicente's six games) or John Rego (was present in four of the seven games of the Pia House).

Joshua Wynder, for his part, had the most difficult task, as he arrived at the New England Revolution with the Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign in progress. However, early in the morning from Saturday to Sunday he played at the beginning, for the first time, in the heavy defeat suffered in the visit to the Royal Salt Lake, by 3-0.

Rafa Obrador and James Relatives are cases to review

After having noticed, in the second half of 2025/26, with a goal and three assists in Torino's sweater, Rafa Obrador went to Sassuolo, where he has not been happy, in such a way that he no longer leaves the bench of alternates since the tie to two balls granted in the visit to Bologna, on 6 September.

The most sensitive case, however, concerns the James Parent, 20-year-old defense that was presented as reinforcement of Swansea City (the current leader of the Championship, the second echelon of English football), on August 4, but not yet added a single minute under the orders of the Portuguese also Vítor Matos.