Legendary Benfica skipper Luisao in London to complete shock move to Wolves
Brazilian, 35, has won 17 trophies during his 13 years in Portugal but looks set to finish career in Championship
LEGENDARY Benfica skipper Luisao is on the verge of a shock move to Championship side Wolves, according to reports in Portugal.
The Brazilian has been with the Portuguese giants for 13 years and has won 17 trophies in that time.
However, report the central defender is in London to complete the final stages of a transfer to Wolves worth £50,000-a-week over two years — which is more than he was on at Benfica.
Luisao is an icon at the club and his departure would devastate supporters.
Fans have pleaded with their hero not to leave the Estadio da Luz, and he has reassured them he will return in the future in some capacity.
At 35, Luisao sees this as his last big pay-day.
Luisao arrived from Cruzeiro in 2003 for £890,000 and became a stalwart at the back for the Eagles.
He won the Portuguese Cup in his first season, and a league title in his second.
The Brazilian was named club captain in 2006 and went onto become the club’s longest-serving captain, playing 229 matches.
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Altogether, Luisao has won the Primeira Liga five times, the Portuguese Cup twice, the Portuguese League Cup seven times and the Portuguese Super Cup twice.
He was also a back-to-back Europa League runner-up as Benfica lost to Chelsea and Sevilla in 2013 and 2014.
Tottenham fans will remember his double as the Eagles won 3-1 at White Hart Lane in March 2014.
Luisao has also courted controversy during his time in Portugal.
In 2008, he was suspended by the club for confronting team-mate, Kostas Katsouranis, on the pitch after the Greek midfielder’s misplaced pass forced Luisao into committing a foul and receiving a yellow card.
And, in a 2012 friendly, he pushed over a referee who was about to send off Manchester City-bound, Javi Garcia.
The referee suspended the match and took legal action against Luisao.
He was banned for two months and fined £2,100.
Luisao won 44 caps for Brazil and was part of the 2004 Copa America-winning squad.