Sunderland’s failed deadline-day attempt to sign Dodi Lukebakio has now been explained by Benfica manager Marco Silva.
The Black Cats made a late push to bring the Belgium international to the Premier League before the transfer window closed. Talks were held with Benfica, while Lukebakio was reportedly open to the possibility of making the move.
However, the deal never materialised, and Silva has now revealed that Benfica made a footballing decision to keep the 28-year-old.
Asked ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Marítimo whether he was responsible for preventing Lukebakio’s departure, Silva made it clear that the decision came from a technical standpoint.
“It is not very important whether it was Marco, Manuel or António,” he said. “Technical matters can only be down to me, I think there are no doubts about that and there shouldn’t be. It was a technical decision.”
Why Benfica kept Lukebakio
Silva’s comments offer a straightforward explanation for why Sunderland were unable to complete the deal. The Benfica boss feels Lukebakio possesses qualities that are not available elsewhere in his squad.
“Lukebakio has very specific characteristics which we don’t have from another player on the right,” Silva explained. “My technical assessment of our wingers and what we want on the right is that we don’t have any player with Lukebakio’s characteristics.”
The decision may appear surprising given Lukebakio’s limited role so far this season. He has featured in six of Benfica’s eight games but has started just one of them, seemingly giving Sunderland an opening to lure him to England.
Silva, however, insists his limited playing time does not reflect his importance to the squad.
“Regardless of the fact he hasn’t been playing, Lukebakio has known my opinion from the very beginning,” he said. “He asked me several times. We need a player with his characteristics in the Benfica squad.”
Important to Benfica, but no guaranteed starting role
Keeping Lukebakio does not mean Silva is promising him regular starts. The manager stressed that selection decisions are based on performances rather than transfer fees or status.
“We don’t make technical decisions by decree – this player cost X so he has to play, or this player cost Y so he has to play,” Silva said. “It’s about performance and what they show us.”
Silva also acknowledged that players at different stages of their careers can have different reactions to reduced playing time. He believes part of his responsibility is ensuring those players remain motivated even when they are not receiving the minutes they want.
Lukebakio faces significant competition for places, with Silva also having Prestianni, Schjelderup, Kaminski and Rafa available in wide areas.
Rafa, in particular, has impressed when moving inside from the right, providing Silva with another option.
Despite that competition, Silva believes Lukebakio offers something different. The Belgian is viewed as a more traditional winger who operates close to the touchline and provides width.
“In some matches, if not a good number of matches, we’re going to need players with Lukebakio’s characteristics on the pitch,” Silva added.
That ultimately explains Sunderland’s frustration on deadline day. The Black Cats appear to have found a player who was prepared to consider the move, but Benfica’s manager was equally determined that the winger should remain in Portugal.