Contrary to what I said yesterday, SL Benfica and Celta of Vigo can not seem to come to terms on payment of the 10 million Euros price tag for Oubiña.  As such, negotiations between the two teams are on hold, as was confirmed by Celta President Carlos Mouriño.  Personally I am happy to hear this, I think the price tag was just way too high.

But in what seems like a never ending arrival of new players, Benfica is on the verge of signing Uruguayan international Maximiliano (Maxi) Pereira.  The 21 year old midfielder is expected to arrive in Lisbon this weekend to sign with SL Benfica for a four year deal.  Although there is no final agreement as of yet, the previous club of Maxi Perreira, Deportivo Sporting, has given the player the green light to travel to Lisbon.  As of this writing there was no reference to how much the rights to Maxi would cost.

When last season ended, all indications were that Benfica would start this season with a very similar squad and with the same coach.  One week into the new season, we have a new coach, and a slue of new players that even I will have a hard time identifying.  I don´t know about you but this could all end very bad, this just reminds me too much of a not too distant past.  Lets just hope I am wrong, very wrong.