FC Bayern Munich is actively seeking to offload João Palhinha, following his return from a loan spell. A promising new opportunity for the club’s midfield roster has now presented itself.

A Portuguese outlet has indicated that Benfica Lisbon is showing keen interest in acquiring the 31-year-old midfielder. The most decorated club in Portugal is reportedly preparing a substantial offer of €20 million, supplemented by an additional €5 million in potential bonuses. This proposal from Benfica would directly align with FC Bayern’s valuation of Palhinha, set at €25 million.

• Should this transfer materialize, it is certain to generate significant buzz within the football world. Palhinha’s roots lie with Sporting CP, the fierce cross-city rival of Benfica, where he honed his skills and played 95 official matches. Interestingly, prior to a UEFA Champions League encounter between Bayern Munich and Benfica in the autumn of 2024, Palhinha described the fixture as a “special match.” He surprisingly disclosed that, despite his history with Sporting, many of his family members were “predominantly Benfica supporters.” The midfielder has openly expressed his willingness to move to the red side of Lisbon, a transfer that would see him rejoin coach Marco Silva, with whom he previously worked at Fulham in the Premier League before his move to Munich.

• João Palhinha officially joined FC Bayern in 2024 for a substantial fee of 51 million euros.

  Recent rumors suggested that his former club, Sporting CP, had also expressed interest in a reunion; however, the Lisbon-based club was reportedly unable to meet the necessary financial terms. A Portuguese newspaper indicates that Italian giants Juventus Turin and AC Milan have now also entered the race for his signature.

  Despite the hefty transfer fee from Fulham, Palhinha struggled to cement a regular starting spot at Bayern Munich, making only 25 official appearances, primarily coming off the bench. Last summer, he was loaned to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League for five million euros. However, following a season where the London club narrowly avoided relegation, they ultimately decided against activating the agreed-upon purchase option.

  Should the transfer to Benfica proceed, Palhinha would become the fifth player returning from a loan spell to be permanently moved on by Bayern this summer. This follows the departures of Alexander Nübel to Besiktas, Daniel Peretz to Southampton, Maurice Krattenmacher to Elversberg, and Jonah Kusi-Asare to Fulham, signaling a clear strategy by the Bavarian club.