Benfica manager praises Ukrainian Sudakov: 'Great asset' to boost squad
Heorhii Sudakov and Benfica head coach Bruno Lage (photo: facebook.com/SLBenfica)
The head coach of Portuguese club Benfica, Bruno Lage, after his team's victory over Alverca in the 4th round of the League, shared his thoughts on the signing of Ukrainian midfielder Heorhii Sudakov.
Head coach on signing Ukrainian player
"He is a great asset. He is a player of enormous quality who, once again, as he said yesterday [on Saturday], will allow us to continue building this team in which, regardless of the system, we have solutions to play according to the strategy and the opponent, thanks to the various positions he plays," noted the coach of the Eagles.
This statement highlights the versatility of the Ukrainian midfielder, as his ability to effectively play in various positions in central midfield—from attacking midfielder to number 8—gives the coach more tactical options.
Sudakov's comments
Heorhii himself has already shared his first impressions of the move and outlined his ambitious goals in the new club.
"Above all, I want to win everything with this club, first and foremost the Championship, of course, and I believe I can achieve that with this incredible team. I want to win the Championship, the Portuguese Cup, and move forward in the Champions League, qualifying for the next stage," the player noted.
In addition, he confirms that he is ready to play in any position where the coach sees him.
"I can play in all attacking positions and also in midfield, in my position, as number 10. But I can also play as an 8 or a 6. At Shakhtar, I played left wing, right wing, and for me, it's not very important where I play. I just want to show what I can do on the pitch," added Heorhii.
Heorhii Sudakov in Benfica training (photo: facebook.com/SLBenfica)
Deal details
Sudakov's move to Benfica has been arranged as a loan deal until the end of the 2025/26 season. However, this is not just a temporary reinforcement but a strategic step, as the contract includes a mandatory purchase option.
For the loan of the Ukrainian midfielder, Benfica paid €6.75 million. In addition, the choice of shirt number is symbolic: Sudakov will play under number 10, which in football usually belongs to the team's leaders, clearly underlining the high expectations of him from the management and coaching staff.
Earlier, we reported the details of Illia Zabarnyi's recent transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.
