Manchester United He may not be the frontrunner for Richard Rios just yet, but Benfica are now openly laying the groundwork for a potential sale - and that changes the picture around the Colombian midfielder.
Messages have been coming from Portugal for several weeks remained relatively firm. Benfica did not want to be sold cheaply, the player was happy in Lisbon and the club saw the 2026 World Cup as a prime opportunity to further increase his value.
That stance has not completely ended. However, a recent report to ball Suggests that reality is now catching up to ambition.
Benfica need money - and Rios is one of the obvious candidates
The Portuguese side are preparing for a summer rebuild after a disappointing season. There is a real possibility that they will miss out on Champions League football, which would deal a significant financial blow.
Because of this, Benfica's board are now considering sales that they would ideally have avoided.
According to A Bola, Richard Rios is one of the main names being discussed internally as a possible major exit. Andreas Schjelderup and Vangelis Pavlidis have also been mentioned, but the Colombian midfielder has been described as the leading candidate in midfield.
This is a notable change in tone compared to earlier reports. Because previously, Benfica had only been described as willing to listen to "unique" proposals. Now the language has become soft. The report states that the club would be willing to analyze offers upwards of €30m (£26m).
Of course, this is still a large fee. But it is also a far cry from the €100m (£87m) release clause in his contract.
Manchester United still remain interested
Keeping an eye on the situation, Manchester United has once again been named among the English clubs.
The report does not go as far as claiming formal negotiations or bids. However, the Premier League team continues to feature in Portuguese reporting about the player.
Napoli are said to be particularly alert, while English clubs are also monitoring developments.
But for United, the interest still makes logical sense. Since the beginning of 2025, Richard Ríos has played 90 matches for club and country. That workload alone speaks volumes about his physical toughness.
Also, his production has also improved this season. The 25-year-old has already registered six goals and six assists, making this the most productive campaign of his career so far.
If Michael Carrick's side are looking to improve the midfield, he could certainly be one of the strong contenders for a place in the team.
Benfica is balancing evaluation and urgency
The interesting thing here is the paradox that Benfica is now trying to manage.
On the one hand, they still believe that the World Cup can significantly increase the market value of Richard Rios. The Colombian is expected to be part of his national team's plans in 2026, and Benfica know that a strong tournament could greatly increase his price.
On the other hand, they may not be in a financial position to comfortably wait.
An Bola repeatedly formulated the club's summer strategy around the need for liquidity before reinvesting in the team. This explains why the tone around Rios has become more lenient.
So while Benfica aren't actually putting the "for sale" sign on the midfielder, there is now a very clear sense that they are 'open to offers' - especially if the Premier League club decide to seriously make a move.
