Antonio Silva: AC Milan Monitor the Benfica Defender
One of the most pressing open questions in Milan’s transfer market concerns the centre-back position. The rossoneri need at least one reinforcement at the back, and one of the profiles followed most closely in recent weeks is that of Antonio Silva, central defender at Benfica and a fixture in the Portuguese national team.
Contacts Through Mendes and the Benfica Standoff
The situation is straightforward: Antonio Silva has refused to renew his contract with the Lisbon club. Benfica therefore find themselves in a position where they must sell their defender this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer at the end of his deal. A window of opportunity, then, for any club prepared to move quickly and decisively.
In recent weeks, there have been contacts between Milan and the player’s camp, handled through the influential agent Jorge Mendes. Silva has reportedly made clear that he has no intention of continuing at Benfica, while the Portuguese media reported a last-ditch attempt by the club to offer an improved contract — most likely a tactical move to either increase his transfer value or make one final attempt to keep him.
Will Milan Come Back for Antonio Silva?
The question now is a practical one: will Milan renew their interest or look at alternative defensive profiles? The Portuguese centre-back is a high-quality player, developed through Benfica’s academy and now established at the top level of European football. He brings personality, anticipation, and composed reading of the game — qualities that would fit well with the high-intensity, proactive football Amorim wants to build.
Milan have already flagged this as a priority. The Benfica defender is considered a key target for the rossoneri’s back line, and with Fikayo Tomori seemingly set to depart — the English centre-back is among those earmarked for sale — the need for a reliable central defender is more urgent than ever.
The Defensive Market Hinges on Departures
Milan’s strategy necessarily runs through outgoings first: creating space in the squad and on the wage bill is the prerequisite for making the right additions. The transfer discussions that took place at Milanello during the pre-season camp — with Bobby Gardner, Calvelli and Almstadt present alongside Amorim and Cardinale — almost certainly addressed this issue. The defensive puzzle needs to be completed before the season begins, and the name of Antonio Silva remains firmly on the table.
The coming weeks will be decisive. Milan know what they need, and the groundwork has been laid. Now is the time to move from words to action.
