Bayern Munich seeks buyer for João Palhinha as Benfica emerges as a surprising suitor

Should this transfer come to fruition, it is certain to generate considerable buzz throughout the football world. Palhinha notably developed his skills within the youth ranks of Sporting CP, Benfica’s fierce cross-city rival, where he went on to make 95 official appearances. Interestingly, prior to a UEFA Champions League encounter between Bayern Munich and Benfica in the autumn of 2024, Palhinha had described the fixture as a “special match,” surprisingly revealing that despite his deep roots with Sporting, his family members were “rather supporters of Benfica.”

The defensive midfielder has openly indicated his willingness to consider a move to the red side of Lisbon. Such a transfer would also see Palhinha reunited with head coach Marco Silva, under whom he previously played during his tenure at Fulham in the Premier League, before his eventual move to Munich.

Recent speculation had also linked his former club, Sporting CP, with a potential reunion; however, the financial demands could not be met by the Lisbon-based side. Reports from various sources, including Portuguese media, suggest that Italian giants Juventus Turin and AC Milan are now also monitoring the situation and could enter the race for the midfielder’s signature.

Palhinha made the switch from Fulham to Bayern Munich in 2024 for a hefty €51 million, yet he struggled to consistently secure a starting role. He participated in only 25 official matches for the Munich club, largely coming off the bench. Last summer, he was loaned to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for a fee of €5 million. Despite his presence, the London club narrowly avoided relegation and ultimately decided against exercising the agreed-upon purchase option.

Should the transfer to Benfica materialize, Palhinha would become the fifth player returning from loan that Bayern has permanently offloaded this summer. This follows the departures of Alexander Nübel to Besiktas, Daniel Peretz to Southampton, Maurice Krattenmacher to Elversberg, and Jonah Kusi-Asare to Fulham.