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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

Liverpool told Benfica's 'next Enzo Fernandez' would flourish in their midfield

Benfica midfielder Florentino Luis would 'walk' into Liverpool's midfield, according to former Benfica coach Joao Tralhao.

The Benfica star has been dubbed as the 'next Enzo Fernandez', but the Portuguese holding midfielder has made a name for himself this season after flourishing under Roger Schmidt.

After Fernandez secured a British record £107 million transfer to Chelsea on deadline day, Benfica have already found their replacement for the Argentine World Cup winner.

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The 23-year-old is the only Benfica player to feature in all 33 matches this season, showing his significance to the Portuguese side after spending the previous two seasons out on loan.

Former Benfica boss Tralhao believes he can go to the very top, stating he "would have no problem adapting" to Liverpool: "He is the kind of player every coach would like to have in their squad,” Tralhao told GOAL. “He’s an amazing boy, a hard worker, calm, professional, always prepared to listen and he is a proper team player. He doesn't think only of himself.

“Technically speaking, it’s not easy to find a midfielder with the defensive qualities he has. I used to joke with him and say that he saw the game two seconds before everyone else.

"It’s amazing the amount of interceptions he makes, the way he can be in the right position all the time. He is always in the right space to regain the ball and he has improved so much in terms of duels, using his body, protecting the ball in contact and so on.

“He has the talent and quality to play in elite teams. Remember when Real Madrid had the Galacticos? They needed someone to balance the team, and [Claude] Makelele was so important. More recently, Casemiro did that job, allowing [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Luka] Modric and [Karim] Benzema to attack. Florentino has those capabilities. He’s having an amazing season under Roger Schmidt.

“He can play anywhere, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, anywhere. He would have no problem adapting."

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