The incredible starting XI of players sold by Benfica

Former Benfica players currently represent some of Europe's biggest clubs

Forwards - Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Rodrigo Moreno (Valencia) and Angel Di Maria (PSG)

Silva only played three games for Benfica senior team

Bernardo Silva is also a product of the Benfica youth system but he only played three games for the senior team before moving to Monaco at a young age. Silva rose to fame with Monaco and in three seasons, he played 126 games scoring 25 goals while also playing a crucial role in winning the Ligue 1 in 2016/17.

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The Portuguese international moved to Manchester City in 2017 and was part of the side that broke numerous records en route to winning the Premier League title.

Rodrigo Moreno came through Real Madrid’s academy but he couldn’t break into the first team and moved to Benfica in 2010. He spent his first season with Benfica on loan at Bolton Wanderers before going on to score 45 goals in 120 games for the Lisbon side.

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He joined Valencia on loan in 2014 before making the move permanent the following season. The 27-year-old has scored 38 goals in 138 games for Valencia and has also broken into the Spain national team.

He was linked with a return to Real Madrid this summer but a move didn’t materialise. However, that move can still happen in the future.

The final player in this XI is Angel Di Maria. In 2007, he moved from Rosario Central to play for a European club and like many South American stars, Benfica was Di Maria’s first destination.

He played 124 games in Benfica colours before moving to Real Madrid in 2010. He was at Real Madrid for four seasons as a first team regular winning several trophies before moving to Manchester United and later to PSG.

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The 30-year-old is still with PSG and has added to his trophy cabinet at the Parisian club.

At the international level, he has been a regular for Argentina with 20 goals in 97 games in the last 10 years.

Honourable mentions - Goncalo Guedes (Valencia), Nicolas Gaitan (Dalian Yifang), Lazar Markovic (Liverpool), Nolito (Sevilla) and Konstantinos Mitroglou (Marseille)

You can also find similar XIs of players sold by Chelsea, Liverpool, PSG, Arsenal, Sevilla, Southampton, Roma, Basel and Dinamo Zagreb.

Edited by Alan John