Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), January 16: Santos have confirmed the sale of defender Lucas Verissimo to Portugal's Benfica following three weeks of negotiations.
The 25-year-old will join his new club following Santos' appearance in the Copa Libertadores final against Palmeiras at the Maracana stadium on January 30.
"After more than 20 days of talks we believe we managed to get the best possible deal," Santos president Andres Rueda said in a statement published on the club's official website on Friday.
According to local media reports, Benfica paid 6.5 million euros (around 8 million U.S. dollars) to secure the center-back on a five-year deal.
Verissimo, who has made 183 first-team appearances for Santos, had also been linked with Italy's Udinese and English second-tier club Watford.
He will be the seventh Brazilian in Benfica's squad, joining Gilberto, Everton, Gabriel, Jardel, Pedrinho and Helton Leite.
Source: Xinhua