According to Fabrizio Romano, Benfica are interested in signing Jhon Durán on loan, and I have a few things to say because I followed him closely at Al Nassr and have continued to keep an eye on him since, even if from a distance.
One thing is undeniable: at his best, Durán is a top-class striker.
He made a name for himself at Aston Villa as a super-sub before moving to Pioli’s Al Nassr. I have never been a fan of Pioli, and in my opinion, he did not do a good job there. The idea was to play in a 4-2-4, with Durán staying higher up the pitch so Cristiano Ronaldo could drift out of the box, drop deeper, link the play and roam, which is what he enjoys doing. Durán would also move into the channels at times, but the main objective was always to have someone occupying the penalty area whenever Ronaldo left it.
The problem was that it did not take long to realise it was not going to work. It was obvious in fewer than ten matches.
Al Nassr had previously played with Ronaldo and Talisca, but Talisca constantly looked to shoot, and Pioli essentially tried to recreate that dynamic by pairing Durán with Ronaldo. It did not work either.
Durán eventually fell out of the club’s plans and was loaned to Fenerbahçe before moving to Zenit, and his situation only became more complicated. At this point, what seems clear is that Durán needs a club he can finally call home.
Now, if the reports are accurate, his next move could be another loan, this time to Benfica. Honestly, he would be joining a league where, if he reaches even 70% of his true level, he is the best striker in the competition. We are talking about a league that includes Pavlidis, Suárez and Samu, but even so, at 70% of his ability, I still think Durán is the best.
The issue is the financial side. If Benfica eventually want to sign him permanently, they would have to pay a significant fee, and that is not usually the type of deal Benfica are willing to make.
Conclusion
Durán has the chance to return to a respected European league, and he really needs to make the most of this opportunity because his career has been on a downward trajectory ever since leaving Aston Villa.
If he arrives in Liga Portugal performing at even 70% of his potential, I believe he is the best striker in the league. I have said it. Now he has to prove it on the pitch.