Tottenham and Aston Villa have been tracking Gianluca Prestianni for months, and Benfica’s attempt to tie the Argentine winger down has hit a snag nobody expected: not the money itself, but when it arrives.
The 20-year-old has agreed to everything Benfica put in front of him. The salary, the length of the deal and the signing bonus are all settled. Yet the new contract still hasn’t been signed, and with Premier League clubs circling ahead of January, that delay is exactly the kind of gap Tottenham will be watching.
According to A Bola, the hold-up comes down to a payment schedule, and the ball is now firmly in Benfica’s court.
Why hasn’t Prestianni signed his new Benfica deal?
Benfica want to delay his signing bonus until the end of the season. Prestianni wants it the moment he puts pen to paper.
The reason is a personal one. He wants to use the money to help his family and repay them for the support they’ve given him throughout his career. He’s even willing to wait until the end of the campaign for his agreed salary rise. It’s only the bonus he wants straight away.
Benfica would prefer to postpone that payment for financial and accounting reasons. The disagreement could be resolved at any moment, but there’s still no formal agreement, and while Prestianni isn’t making a fuss, the situation is leaving him less comfortable than he’d like.
Marco Silva tells Benfica fans to relax
Benfica boss Marco Silva tried to calm things down on 7 November, telling supporters they “can and should be reassured” about the renewal. He also praised the club’s handling of the talks and pointed out that Prestianni is already under contract until 2029.
There’s a footballing reason for Benfica’s confidence too. Prestianni is happy at the club and particularly enjoys working with Silva, who has started using him on the left wing. That’s his preferred position, and he feels much more comfortable expressing himself there.
Previous managers Roger Schmidt, Bruno Lage and José Mourinho generally used him on the right or through the middle. The switch has helped him produce the best football of his career.
Spurs, Villa and a crowded queue
Spurs and Aston Villa are far from alone. Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle and Brighton have all been linked with Prestianni in recent weeks, and several European clubs with considerably greater financial resources than Benfica are positioning themselves for a possible move. Some are even considering an approach in January.
The player’s own plans matter as well. Reports in Portugal last month suggested he wanted to stay at Benfica until the end of the season and fight for the Portuguese title, and nothing in the latest update says he has changed his mind.
Should Tottenham move for Prestianni in January?
For Roberto De Zerbi, a young winger who has found his best form on the left is an obvious temptation. When a centre-back had Tottenham’s best chance at Elland Road, it said plenty about how short of spark this attack is, and the hunt for a proper number nine shouldn’t hide the need for more invention out wide.
But this looks like a door opening slightly rather than swinging wide. Prestianni has already said yes to Benfica’s terms, the row is about timing rather than money, and a club that wants to keep him should be able to find a way around one bonus payment. If Benfica drag it out, though, that discomfort could grow, and January isn’t far away.
Spurs are already looking abroad, with Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde another name on their radar. Prestianni deserves a place on that list too. The smart play is to keep watching, keep in touch with his camp and be ready if Benfica blink.
