Benfica officially confirmed the loan of Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos to Al Ittihad, a club from Saudi Arabia. The loan is valid until June 2027. Ríos, 26 years old, thus leaves the Portuguese club after a period of little success at the club.
The operation should yield Benfica a fee of around 3 to 4 million euros. This value represents the cost that the Portuguese club will have with the temporary departure of the player to Arabian football.
Ríos arrived at Benfica with the expectation of establishing himself as an important option in midfield, but failed to meet the technical team's expectations. His stint at the Lisbon club was marked by few opportunities to play and difficulties in adapting to Portuguese football.
With this transfer, the Colombian midfielder joins Al Ittihad's sporting project, which has been investing in signing South American players to strengthen their squad. The long-term loan allows Benfica to maintain the player's economic rights, and he may return to the club in the future.
