Benfica have announced the transfer of a forward who had been of interest to Real Madrid

Benfica has officially announced the acquisition of central striker Marcos Leonardo from Santos.

The 20-year-old Brazilian has signed a contract with the Portuguese club until the summer of 2029. According to Fabrizio Romano, the transfer cost Benfica €18 million plus bonuses.

In addition to Benfica, Marcos Leonardo had interest from Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Roma, and even Real Madrid.

In the previous season, Leonardo scored 13 goals and provided 2 assists in 31 matches in the Brazilian Serie A. He also played 7 matches for the Brazilian U-20 national team, scoring 7 goals.

Benfica currently holds the third position in the Portuguese league after 15 rounds, trailing Sporting by 1 point. In the UEFA Champions League, the Eagles finished third in their group behind Real Sociedad and Inter. In the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, Roger Schmidt's team will face Toulouse.

It's worth noting that Santos, for the first time in its history, was relegated to the second division of Brazilian football after the conclusion of Serie A.