Rui Costa set for Benfica

[Graeme C]

Borrowed from Channel4

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Manuel Rui Costa will bring his Milan career to an end in favour of a return to Benfica this summer, according to reports.

Although the attacking midfielder’s contract with the Rossoneri doesn’t expire until June 2007, sources suggest that he will move back to his homeland next season.

Rui Costa has made no secret of the fact that he has always wanted to end his playing days with the Lisbon outfit.

Benfica are now said to be ready to make that happen after another frustrating season for the Portuguese ace in Italy.

The 34-year-old is now a regular on the San Siro bench given the impact made by Kaka since his arrival three seasons ago.

Rui Costa spent three years with Benfica before he moved to Serie A in 1994 when Fiorentina netted his services.

The playmaker performed for seven years at the Stadio Artemio Franchi until Milan swooped at the end of the 2000-01 campaign

[sheva-gila]

i think he will have better oportunittes to play in a first benfica's team so if he decides to rejoin benfica we have to respect his choice and whatever we have kaka in his place so i dont really mind if he gouse to benfica, we just need some young player to replace him or clearly to be kaka's substutiton . anyway thanks RUI for ur countribut here and good luck.

( I m talkin before he quit with us )!!!!

[mk18]

to be honest so long as we get someone able to replace him like ballack or maybe camoranesi, im fine with him leaving, but id love it if he stays, hes a true champion, a great... i have alot of respect for him and its up to him... i feel hes gonna head back tbh!

[Warro Bantan]

I would hate to see this happen, but as we all know, all good things...

Rui Costa has been the example of a consummate professional, and I hold him in the highest regard for how he has handled being on the bench while Kaka plays.

If he does indeed decide to leave (and I couldnt honestly blame him), then I wish him the very best, and sincerely hope that we can find someone to replace him...

Right now, I am too emotional to even think of who could fill his shoes.

FORZA RUI!!! Which ever decision you make!

[hitmannq8]

Damn, Rui Costa to Benfica rumours have been going on for years and he kept denying them.. i believe when he extended his contract this year for milan he did state that he wants to end his career at milan, but who knows.. maybe he really wants to finally start getting regular football..

i for one dont believe that he will be leaving, but if he is, Ballack will certainly be joining Milan..im not too sure he's going to Chelsea because he wants to, but because there is no other choice.. im pretty sure if we declare our interest he will change his mind

[Milan_Mad]

I would be suripsed if he leaves this summer i would love him to stay and get more playing time as he is a fantistac player he's just be unlucky with his goals tally: but just look at all the assits he makes for milan

[zlatanov]

I think it would be only natural for this to happen. He is a great player and it would be difficult to find someone else as good and as talanted, who would be willing to spent so much time on the bench. but let's face it - he is 34 yo and I think it would be best for all sides involved if he moved on and freed his spot for a younger player.
Who would that player be? Well, I would love to see Rosicky or Riquelme come here but we all know that this is simply unrealistic given our frugal transfer policy. Probably someone like baronio or montolivo would be more likely. Or maybe even JP from Lyon, he's been the tartget of Milan managemnet's interest for quite some time now.
btw, Stewart Downing from Boro doesn't look bad at all. I am pretty sceptical when it somes to signing English players but that guy DOES have class and talent, tons of these actually.

[_MaJi_tz]

rui rules!!!!!!!!!!

[Philly]

well since the arrival of kaka, it was gona more or less be that way rui, after that goal against england at euro 04 you'd expect him to be playin a bit more??? ah well...what we gona do? it aint up to us!

good luck to him whatever he does!

[rahul.acm]

I think his time is up at sansiro! sad but kaka will always be the first choice. rui should go another team like benfica coz he might be having at the most 3 years and should make use of them! I feel sad for him spending time on the bench and still not complain abt it!

godspeed rui!

[K77SH C]

Il be sad to see him go, but will wish him luck and become a Benfica fan, after Milan of course :sagrin:

[savage_mau]

We should let Rui go.i sure all milan fan love rui but we all will also agree it time for him to go. Now we muct look for potential younger player.There a big hole to be fill in the NUmber 10 jersey!!

ForZa Rui We Love U!!

[RIO]

I can still remember when Milan signed him. It was quite a coup since a lot of other teams wanted him and were expecting to get him (*cough*Parma*cough*). Rui has always been the consumate professional, whether starting, subbing or sitting on the bench. Never whined, always supported and when he did play he always made a huge contribution. I beleive he really helped in the development of Pirlo and of Kaka, as well, leading by his good example. he certainly commands the respect of every Milanista and deserves the opportunity to go back home and finish his career where he started it. I can only hop that the player we get to replace him can be half the man and one third the player he was for us.

[Debs]

I have to agree 1000% with RIO and Warro--Manny has been THE consumate professional and gentleman in the way he's been treated by Milan or should I say the coach. We've had so many players who've come in riding on their press, and everyone believed that press,and they ended up being jerks when it came to whining about why they weren't playing well or bitching aobut being on the bench for one game. Manny however has never lowered himself to such foolishness. I have as much respect for him as a player and a man as I do for Maldini. My only regret is that if he does leave this summer, I didn't get back to Milan to see him in our uniform. I had the good fortune tho to encounter him in Florence after a Fior practice, just 2 months before he signed for us, and that is a very good memory for me b/c he was a total gentleman to everyone around him. I have to chuckle even, b/c after getting a couple close up pix of him, I was standing some distance away as he signed for other fans near his car and he saw I was still using my camera so he waved and posed again!

Manny to Benfica?? Our total loss....and if this happens it's going to rip my heart right out of my chest. I've enjoyed having my 2 top players on one team....

[GRE-NO-LI]

Who would that player be? Well, I would love to see Rosicky or Riquelme come here but we all know that this is simply unrealistic given our frugal transfer policy.

What is worst is the fact that Zlatanov's remark is probably a true and realistic one... :cry:

[Philly]

i still cant believe he's still our biggest signing, i mean compared to the ability that kaka and sheva are producing recently we got them for bargins!

[K77SH C]

Yeah, but we got them whe they were young, Rui was already a great player in Seria A. Anyway it feels good to know how cheap we got Kaka. :p017:

[Vadim]

I have to agree entirely with everything Warro RIO, and Debs said. A great player and a great man. Not once did he ***** about not playing instead of Kaka. I will always greatly repsect him. It will be very sad to see him go, but I think he wants to finish his career in Portugal and we should not get in the way of his wishes. I know I am getting too far of myself here, but a perfect end to his career at Milan will be a goal in Paris :)
FORZA RUI COSTA FOREVER!

[mk18]

What is worst is the fact that Zlatanov's remark is probably a true and realistic one... :cry:
ur such a downer!