Rui Costa joins Benfica

Wish to say thanks and good bye to a great player and especially to a great man. Rui Costa spent the last 2 season on the bench when he deseved to play more and inspite of that he kept his feelings for himself and never showed his anger or frustration in front of everyone. Many others should learn from him! He just wants to play for his 1 or 2 seasons in his homeland so its quite understandable for a 34 year old.
Rui was very unlucky in 2001 when his first season was of injury, but his second was great, full of assists and ending with the Manchester triumph. In the last 3 seasons, due to Kaka's explosion he spent a lot of time on the bench even though in many time he deserved a chance becasue the others where not doing well.

He's a brilliant player, but when Kakà joined us he lost his place and a player like Rui deserves to play a lot more then he played the last year with us, so it's the best choice for him to go to Benfica, where I think he will end his carreer as a hero in Benfica with an exellent last year as football player.

Forza Rui, good luck

Well, this kid from France scored today in the u21 against Germany.

thanks for the great memories rui .. good luck at benfica

Got it from XT, Benfica forum.

I’ve translated a few lines of Rui’s interview tonight, taken from our official site (which is not complete in our site) :


"Both Fiorentina and Milan were amazing with me. I have to thank Milan in particular for letting me comeback home, to Mr Galliani for understanding that this was my dream”

Rui added that he felt both nervous, emotional and happy “I’m here with an open heart, because I always felt this was my home”

“Even though money is important, there are priorities in life and my return to Benfica was the main one”

«I had to pay this debt to Benfica, since this club gave me a love from the size of the world”

«The wages issue was never an issue. I just couldnt return because the transfer fees were higher than one might think of “

Rui confirmed what Benfica’s President had previously said, by stating that he signed a contract without knowing how much he would be earning “ I’m not better than the others, I simply wanted very bad to comeback and money wasn’t the key issue”


«I would never step in as a saviour, and neither without feeling fit and able. I know this club only thinks about winning and therefore I promise to Benfica fans that i will give it all to help this club win titles”
«And i feel capable of doing it, i didnt come to sunbathe”

Turning to fernando santos «Provided the coach picks me , i will step into the pitch to help this team win it all”
To which the coach nodded and smiled

«It might be “safer” not to risk this comeback, but this is not just a passionate decision. This is a choice from a professional who feels able to be effective and to feel the club he loves”

Then people asked him: “ will u be the n10?”, to which Rui replied smiling ( and giggling) :” the number of the jersey is not a priority. I just want to be given a jersey”

You will be dearly missed.

All the best rui n we at milanmania will remember u always.

Rui realy is a model player,not 2 many like him left.

Yeah, Maunel Rui Costa

I would thank him for his contribution and the class he showed on and off the pitch. and also wish him best of luck in his new endeavor.

We will never forget u rui costa hope you are as a valuble player in lisbon as you were at milan FORZA RUI COSTA!!!!!

Thanks Costa for what you have done at Milan, good luck in benfica were you will be the star player

Thanx Rui and good luck