Benfica Juan Bernat New signing

STATEMENTS TO BTV

The 30-year-old left-back Juan Bernat joined the professional football team of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The Spanish international arrives at the club from Paris Saint-Germain, on a season-long loan.

"It’s important to arrive at the biggest club in Portugal, which fights for every title. I’m looking forward to getting started. I want to enjoy this club. This is a winning team that wants to keep winning. We will try to fight for all the titles we play and give everything for that goal, knowing that it requires a lot of work", said to BTV.

Presenting himself as a player who "leaves everything on the field and always gives all he can", Bernat addressed a message to the Benfiquistas: "Thank you very much for the reception. I hope to see you soon and return all the affection on the field."

THE CAREER OF BENFICA'S NEW LEFT-BACK

Trained at Valencia, Juan Bernat made his first team debut at the age of 18, starting in a 4-3 victory over Racing Santander for La Liga on August 27, 2011. This was the first of 10 games with Valencia in 2011/12 season.

Usually used as a winger or midfielder, the new signing of Benfica turned definitely into a left-back in the 2013/14 season. Bernat left his mark on Valencia’s first team with 49 appearances, two goals and one assist. The good performances at Mestalla caught the attention of Pep Guardiola, who took him to Bayern

In Munich, the Spanish made 49 appearances in their debut season, winning the first title of his career: the 2014/15 Bundesliga. In the following season faced Benfica for the first time, having been used in both games of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In four years in Germany, the player won four Championships, two Cups and two Super Cups.

In the summer of 2018, the left-back was transferred to Paris Saint-Germain and had an immediate impact on the new team, contributing to the conquest of Ligue 1 2018/19 with four goals and two assists. The following season, Bernat was the protagonist in a memorable year. Winners of the League Cup, the French Cup, the League Cup and the Super Cup, the Parisians only lost the Champions League final against Bayern at Estádio da Luz.

In the last season (2022/23), the player scored two goals and made four assists in 36 games, being an important piece in the conquest of the last of his four French Championships: in the last nine seasons, he only failed to be champion in 2020/21. Once again, Bernat’s path crossed again with the reds: he played 109 minutes for PSG in the two 1-1 draws in the Champions League group stage.

International for Spain, the left-back made his debut on October 12, 2014, in a victory against Luxembourg: he entered at 70' to replace Iniesta and scored the last goal of a 4-0 win, assisted by Rodrigo Moreno, a player who represented Benfica.