Benfica has officially announced the acquisition of Spanish left-back Rafael Obrador. The 21-year-old defender joins the Portuguese giants from Real Madrid.
Obrador has committed his future to the Lisbon club by signing a long-term contract valid until June 2030. A significant detail of the agreement is the inclusion of a release clause set at a substantial €50 million.
This specific figure carries a curious resonance within the recent transfer dealings between Benfica and Real Madrid. It`s the identical release clause value that was stipulated for left-back Álvaro Carreras when he finalized his permanent transfer to Benfica. As fate, or perhaps market mechanics, would have it, Real Madrid subsequently activated that very same €50 million clause to bring Carreras back to the Santiago Bernabéu shortly after. One might observe that the football transfer market, in its intricate dance, occasionally repeats a tune, if not the exact steps.
Obrador`s youth career included spells at Mallorca before he joined the prestigious Real Madrid academy in the 2021/22 season. During his tenure with Los Blancos, he progressed through the ranks, featuring for their U19 team and later for Real Madrid Castilla, the club`s reserve side.
The 2024/25 season saw Obrador gain valuable senior experience on loan at Deportivo La Coruña, competing in the Spanish Segunda División. He made 33 appearances for Deportivo during this period, contributing one assist.
His arrival at Benfica is expected to strengthen the team`s options on the left defensive flank as they prepare for domestic and international competitions.
