Benfica, confronted yesterday by our newspaper, reacted to the news (published the day before yesterday by Expresso) that Edgar Costa, captain of the Marítimo team, in 2019, confessed, in the context of an investigation by the Public Ministry, being contacted by businessman Miguel Pinho two days before the match against Benfica in Madeira, in the penultimate round of the 2015/2016 season, and that he offered him 30 thousand euros for playing badly and don’t shoot.
“Sport Lisboa e Benfica is not aware of the specific issues under investigation in the process in question, because it has never been confronted with them and because it has been denied access on several occasions for which he requested a consultation. In any case, even if this were not the case, Sport Lisboa e Benfica would never comment on procedures in the secrecy of justice, even less on allegations related to third parties, ”says Benfica.
BOLA tried to speak with Edgar Costa, but the player didn’t answer the phone. Rui Fontes, the current president of Marítimo, on the sidelines of an initiative that took place yesterday in Madeira, has agreed to comment on the matter. “This situation belongs to other times. It’s not part of my time at Maritimo. I have nothing to do with this case. The player has already played his role, which was the one who came to Expresso. News calendar? I am not a political or sports analyst. The player has already said what he has to say in cases where he has to say it, so at this point it’s a done deal. I don’t know anything, it’s a process that is being investigated, which is certainly in the secret,” concluded Rui Fontes.
Our newspaper also tried to hear the version of Miguel Pinho, but the businessman refused to talk about this case. Miguel Pinho, by the way, rose to prominence for managing Bruno Fernandes and for being involved in his transfer from Sporting to Manchester United. But he also manages, for example, Nuno Mendes (transferred to PSG) or Gonçalo Inácio.
Miguel Pinho’s relationship with Benfica developed mainly due to the agent’s strong presence in the embodied formation, where he represented the interests of several youngsters. Miguel Pinho has fallen behind since Rui Costa became Eagles president, but the businessman still manages, for example, the career of 18-year-old Italian B-team international midfielder Cher Ndour. Youth champion of the Reds. League and the Intercontinental.19 subcontinent, which expires next summer and does not yet have an agreement to renew.
