March 22, 2008 2:07 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Simão Linked With Benfica Return

Reports in the Portuguese press suggest that Benfica are hopeful of re-signing winger Simão Sabrosa from Atlético Madrid in the summer.

Simão, 28, spent six successful seasons at Benfica after leaving Barcelona in 2001 and could be set for a return after just one year in Madrid, if a report in Portuguese daily 'Correio da Manha' is to be believed.

The newspaper claims that Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira has already made contact with his Atlético counterpart Enrique Cerezo and that initial signs are positive in respect of a summer transfer.

Cerezo is said to be willing to let Simão leave, providing that Benfica can match the €18million that Atlético paid to take him to Spain at the start of the season, a fee that Vieira is confident of being able to pay.

Simão would be interested in a return according to the newspaper's sources, but Benfica could well hit a stumbling block when it comes to his wages. He currently receives €40,000 a week at Atlético, while he only used to earn €15,000 during his previous spell at Benfica.

Spending such a large amount of money to take him back to Lisbon would surely stretch Benfica's budget and it seems likely that there would need to be some flexibility in respect of wages if the transfer was to be completed.