The American soccer transfer market continues to monitor big names, and the latest to draw interest is Arthur Cabral, a forward for Benfica. According to information published by the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Atlanta United has shown strong interest in the Brazilian, although no official offer has been submitted so far.
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The Five Stripes are looking to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season, which begins in February, but they face an important obstacle: the price Benfica is asking for to release the forward. After all, Cabral was acquired from Fiorentina for €20 million in 2023, and the Portuguese club reportedly has no intention of selling him for less than that amount.
A forward with solid numbers
The 26-year-old Arthur Cabral has been wearing Benfica's jersey for the second consecutive season. He has pulled off 60 matches, with 15 goals and 4 assists, ever since he joined. He made appearances in 17 matches this season, scoring 4 times. His figures might not be out of the ordinary, but he continues to be a key asset within the squad, mainly because of his physical presence and striking instincts.
Despite not being a certain starter for Bruno Lage, he has the confidence of his coach and the management department of the club.
Atlanta United and the chase after marquee signings
Atlanta United remains one of the most ambitious clubs within MLS. Now, the Five Stripes are looking into another marquee signing that will raise the technical level for their squad to be able to square up against the top flight teams in the league easily.
Arthur Cabral fits perfectly in the profile that the franchise is looking for. He is a well-experienced forward who played spells in Brazilian, Swiss, Italian, and Portuguese soccer. His finishes and presence in the box can be a game changer in this league, where physicality is a major factor and efficiency up front counts a lot.
Signaling a forward like Cabral, for Atlanta, would be a real "game-changer," even more considering the Brazilian's very proven abilities.
Price tag the main problem
Benfica paid €20m to buy Arthur Cabral from Fiorentina in 2023. Naturally, the Portuguese club would like to recoup their investment, which complicates the negotiations. Atlanta United will likely make a bid around €15m according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo - which is probably below what they're looking for.
The Portuguese club is not interested in letting him leave during the January transfer window. The management of Benfica believes Cabral can be very useful this season, especially in the most important competitions. In addition, the club insists on recovering the full investment made less than a year ago. Having said that, a transfer may be more feasible during the European summer window.
Is Arthur Cabral a good investment for MLS?
For that, MLS has become a desirable destination for South American and European players seeking new challenges. Specifically, Atlanta United has enjoyed some real success with Brazilians, making any deal for Arthur Cabral an even more logical move for the club.
The €20 million price tag, however, represents a significant investment, even for an MLS club. Such a signing requires careful planning of finances and the certainty that the player will have an instantaneous impact on the team. The fact that Cabral is not a regular starter for Benfica might work in the favor of Atlanta. He was in a squad with high, intense competition for the attacking position, which has limited his opportunities.
A scenario full of uncertainties
The interest of Atlanta United now seems to be only the first step. Without a formal offer, the belief is that negotiations are still on their first day, and everything depends on Benfica's willingness to move around financial expectations.
Should the Portuguese club continue to insist on its firm posture with the mentioned price of €20 million, then there is little possibility for a transfer to occur. On the other hand, should Atlanta United demonstrate solid negotiation and explore other formats-like on loan with an option to purchase, performance bonuses-then everything may change.