In the1960s Benfica were a match for anyone, reaching six European Cup finals in the decade and winning two of them. Nowadays the Lisbon giants struggle to consistently compete in the Champions League. But in one aspect of modern football, the Portuguese club can still claim to be in the absolute elite. When it comes to working the transfer market, Benfica have an enviable record. Since the turn of the century, an astonishing €1.39bn in transfer fees have flowed into the coffers of the Estadio da Luz, a sum only surpassed by Juventus.
While Benfica supporters would much rather they could boast about a team that did justice to their glorious past, it is precisely the modest position the club occupies in today’s football food chain
