Thank you, Marie Alidou!

BTV INTERVIEW

With her voice breaking and her eyes full of emotion, Marie Alidou leaves Benfica with the certainty that she has experienced one of the most remarkable periods of her career at the club. Between achievements, learning and the unique warmth of the fans, the Canadian international found more than a team: she found a family. She is now on her way to Portland Thorns FC, with the feeling that her love for Benfica will be eternal.

"Thank you so much for everything. I think this time I've spent here has honestly been one of the best. Sorry, I don't want to cry...," she said to BTV.

Her words, muffled by emotion, are a reflection of a career lived with intensity, dedication and love for the club. The midfielder has found a family in Benfica, an unwavering support that has helped her grow as a player and as a person.

"Thank you so much to this magnificent and great club we call Benfica. I think my time here has been so good that I'm really grateful for everything. The staff, the players I've played with, and especially the fans. You are a huge help to the growth of this team in Portugal. I'll always be grateful, even for having met some of you after the games. I find you so passionate and that touched my heart the whole time I was here," she revealed.

For the Canadian international, the two seasons with an eagle on her chest were more than just a chapter, they were an unforgettable story of overcoming, conquests and emotions.

"I have no words. I think it's truly an incredible experience to have lived here at Benfica, in Portugal. And I want to thank everyone for supporting me throughout this time. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," she stressed.

"I love Benfica. It's an incredible club. And I've never seen a club with fans like these so far in my career," she added.

With a career marked by dedication and determination, the player recalls the dreams she brought with her when she arrived at Benfica in June 2023. And since that day, the Estádio da Luz has become a special place for Marie Alidou, where she has experienced moments that will stay with her forever.

"When I arrived here, I had a lot of dreams in my head. I don't know how to explain it. I think it was... it was something really powerful to be able to join a historic club like this, like Benfica. I wanted to achieve many things. I'm proud to have worn this jersey, which is historic and emblematic, and I think I'll remember it for a long time, because it's really impactful to wear this jersey. And especially having played at the Estádio da Luz. Just playing in that stadium is a feeling I can't explain. And to score a goal on top of that... I'm very happy about that. But it was a mixture of feelings because I was happy to have contributed to this game, happy to have left my mark in my last game, but at the same time, knowing that I'm leaving makes it a bit difficult. But I'm happy," she mentioned.

The happiness of having been part of the Club's history is mixed with gratitude for everything she has learned.

"I have to thank Benfica a lot for this, for helping me to unlock some things in my game. We don't know, but I don't know if I would have been able to unlock certain things. Technically and tactically, it's something I'm really grateful for," she said.

And so, with a full heart, Marie Alidou says goodbye with the certainty that she will take the Club with her forever.

"Now I'm a Benfiquista. It's hard to leave, but at the same time I'm very proud of this team and the time I've spent here. I'm really proud of it, of what I've helped to achieve in the group," she considered.

But she doesn't leave without leaving a heartfelt appeal to the fans, the same ones who have supported her in every game and who, she believes, make the difference in the growth of women's football in Portugal.

"We need more and more Benfica fans to come and watch the games and help women's football in Portugal, as it is growing immensely. It's crazy because, in my short time here, I've seen an evolution in football and in the fans, who want to pay for tickets to come and see us all the time. And I think this evolution can be even better every year and can grow I don't know how far, but the fans need to keep coming to support the team, because these players are also playing for the 12th player, for the stands," she concluded.