Bernardo Palmeiro, a former footballer and figure linked to Portuguese football, met with João Palhinha during the midfielder's transfer process. This meeting is said to have been decisive in moving the player away from the possibility of signing for Sporting.
After the meeting with Palmeiro, João Palhinha ended up not completing the transfer to Sporting, choosing to follow a different path in the transfer market.
The midfielder ended up being signed by Benfica, the club that secured his services by paying 14 million euros, a value that could be increased by a further five million euros if certain objectives are met.
