Monza have reached a full agreement with Benfica for the transfer of Portugal Under-21 striker Gustavo Varela, with the deal worth €2m plus up to €1.5m in add-ons, Sky Sport Italia reports. The Serie A club have been tracking the 21-year-old for several weeks and moved swiftly once Benfica signalled they were willing to let him leave.
The 21-year-old is expected to fly to Italy for his medical tests this weekend before putting pen to paper on a five-year contract at the U-Power Stadium, tying him to the club until 2031. The deal represents a meaningful investment for Monza as they look to build a squad capable of improving on last season's mid-table finish.
Varela, who spent last season on loan at Gil Vicente in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, had attracted interest from several clubs including Serie A sides Venezia and Parma, as well as PAOK Salonika and Paris FC. At Gil Vicente he gained valuable first-team experience in a competitive league environment.
A Portugal Under-21 international with three goals in five appearances at that level, Varela comes from a footballing family. He is the son of former Cape Verde international defender Fernando Varela, who spent much of his career playing in Portugal and Saudi Arabia. The younger Varela came through Benfica's renowned academy system, following a path similar to many Portuguese talents who have made the move to Serie A in recent years.
The deal was confirmed by Sky Sport Italia transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio, with the agreement covering an initial €2m fee and performance-related bonuses that could take the total package to €3.5m. The structure of the add-ons suggests Monza are confident Varela can make an immediate impact in the first team.
Monza have been active in the summer transfer window, also bringing in left-back Ricardo Mangas from Sporting CP on loan with an option to buy for €1.5m as they strengthen their squad ahead of the new Serie A campaign. The arrival of Varela adds depth to a forward line that will look to improve on last term's goal tally under manager Alessandro Nesta.
Sources
- https://football-italia.net/done-monza-agreement-benfica-striker-varela/
