Pep Guardiola may have spent heavily on his squad as a Manchester City manager but there is no denying his eye for talent. The latest prospect that the Spaniard continues to keep a tab on is Florentino Luis.
According to latest reports from Portuguese news outfit Record, the Manchester City manager wants scouts from the club to keep a close eye on the youngster with an eye on a possible move for next summer.
City wanted the midfielder, whose release clause set at €120m, in the summer as well. Manchester United are also showing an interest in the player but is he the right man for the English champions?
Who Is Florentino Luis?
Born and brought up in Lisbon, Florentino Luis joined Benfica’s academy back in 2010 and broke into the B side in 2016.
Bruno Lage, the current Benfica manager handed him his debut in February this year and ever since, Florentino has cemented a place in the first team, registering some impressive figures last season and this.
He has started every game so far this season, as part of a two-man central midfield alongside Andreas Samaris in Lage’s 4-4-2 system.
With Samaris ordered to sit back as a defensive cover, Florentino has been given enough freedom to express himself all over the pitch and he has managed to impress many in this role.
The 20-year-old is a gifted technician who loves to control the game. He can drive the ball forward, can get out of tight spaces with ease and can pick out long passes consistently, making him an effective player to have in the middle of the field.
He hardly gives the ball away and has a passing accuracy of 89.8% which is impressive for a player in his role. But what makes him that much more attractive for clubs in England is his ability to snuff out opposition attacks in the midfield and add an admirable balance to his side.
Florentino has completed 17 interceptions in four games this season, which is more than any other player in Liga NOS and at just 20, his numbers are a testament to his maturity as a footballer.
Right Man For City?
Though his release clause will be difficult for City to meet, Florentino is a player Guardiola and City might need in the squad going ahead.
The Spaniard decided to bring Rodri from Atletico Madrid to add to his options in the defensive midfield role.
Fernandinho is the only other natural defensive midfielder in the squad while Ilkay Gundogan has shown he can put in a shift in that role but will only be used in rare occasions.
But the Benfica man can be more effective in that role and could be a huge addition to the squad at Etihad when Fernandinho(34) decides to move on leaving Rodri as the only option in the central defensive midfield role in a supremely talented Manchester City team.
