Zlobin, Ferro, Florentino, and Jota permanently in the first team

The goalkeeper Ivan Zlobin (21 years), the centre-back Ferro (21), the defensive midfielder Florentino Luís (19) and the forward Jota (19) are part of the first team of SL Benfica as of this Friday.

Born in Tyumen (Siberia), the Russian player Zlobin is in his fourth season representing Benfica, a team he joined in 2015/16, as a U-19 player, coming from CSKA Moscow. In 2017/18 he established himself as the B team number one, he is was also a U-16, U-17 and U-18 international with Russia.

In turn,  Ferro, born in Oliveira de Azeméis, joined the Club in 2008/09, through the Centro de Formação e Treino de Aveiro. He arrived at Caixa Futebol Campus in 2011 and became U-15 national champion in that season. He started playing for the B team in 2015/16.

Florentino's sports link with Benfica dates back to 2010. It was on that year that the defensive midfielder joined Benfica, as a U-12 player, coming from Real Sport Clube. Playing for the B team, he made is debut in II Division on September 16, 2016, against Académico de Viseu, at the age of 17. 

Jota began playing football at Corroios, but he quickly joined the Benfica Soccer Schools before he was old enough to officially compete. He started in 2007 and has gone through every youth category since the U-11s.

WHAT THEY HAVE DONE SO FAR IN THE 2018/19 SEASON

Text: João Sanches

Fotos: SL Benfica