*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:29, 14 June 2022 (UTC)
Florentino Ibrain Morris Luís (born 19 August 1999), known as Florentino (Portuguese pronunciation:[fluɾẽˈtinu]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Primeira Liga club Benfica. Born in Angola, he has represented Portugal at youth level.
Coming through Benfica's youth system, he began playing for Benfica B in 2017 and was promoted to the first-team a year later, playing a few minutes with the latter. He joined Monaco and Getafe on consecutive loans between 2020 and 2022. He returned to Benfica the following season and established himself as an integral player for the club.
Born in Lobito, Angola, Florentino began playing futsal, with 8 years old at local club Tercena Futsal, before moving to football, after joining Real Massamá in 2009. The following year, he joined Benfica's youth system.[4] On 11 September 2016, he made his professional debut with the club's reserve team as a substitute in a 2–1 home win over Académico de Viseu in LigaPro.[5] During that season, Florentino played in the 2016–17 UEFA Youth League, in which he was a key part of Benfica reaching the final of the competition, which the club lost to Red Bull Salzburg 2–1 in the final and also won the 2017–18 Campeonato Nacional de Juniores.[4]
Following his promotion to Benfica's first team alongside three other Benfica B players on 1 February 2019,[6] Florentino made his Primeira Liga debut as a 62nd-minute substitute in a 10–0 thrashing of Nacional on 10 February.[7] Four days later, he made his European debut as Benfica beat Galatasaray 2–1 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 32, their first ever victory in Turkey.[8] Florentino scored his first Primeira Liga goal in a 4–0 away win over Moreirense on 17 March 2019.[4] He helped Benfica win their record 37th league title by making 11 appearances (8 starts), featuring in a 4–1 win over Santa Clara on the final day of the league campaign.[9] Despite being a starter under Bruno Lage, following his sacking, with the appointment of Jorge Jesus, Florentino lost his place in the first team and after failing to impress the new coach in pre-season, he requested his coach to be sent on loan, in order to have more game time.[10]
2020–2022: Loans to Monaco and Getafe
On 25 September 2020, he joined Monaco on a season-long loan deal for the 2020–21 season, for a reported fee of €1.5 million, with an option to buy of €30 million.[11] He made his debut on 4 October, replacing Youssouf Fofana in the 45th minute in the 1–0 away lost to Brest in Ligue 1. Despite contracting COVID-19 during the season, Florentino found limited minutes, only making two starts in eleven appearances, which saw Monaco finish third place in the league.[12]
On 31 August 2021, Florentino joined La Liga side Getafe on a season-long loan deal for a €500,000 with the Spanish club having an option to buy for €10 million.[13] He made his debut for the club on 18 September, replacing Juan Iglesias in the 46th minute in the 3–0 lost to Rayo Vallecano.[14] Florentino initially became a starter, being the club's best performing midfielder, but following the appointment of Quique Sánchez Flores, he eventually lost his place in the team, and was linked with a potential return to Benfica in January, before making a total of 24 appearances, including 8 starts, as Getafe nearly avoided relegation.[15][16]
2022–2023: Return and First-team breakthrough
Following his loan spell at Getafe, Florentino returned to Benfica the following season. During the pre-season, he impressed newly arrived coach Roger Schmidt with his "quality and commitment", according to the new coach, leading him to earn a spot in the starting eleven, being entrusted by his new manager in the defensive midfield role, in Benfica's first win of the season on 2 August, starting in a 4–1 home win over Midtjylland in the first leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.[17] He subsequently formed a successful partnership in midfield, with the club's newest signing Enzo Fernández, and in his next six matches he registered a 93% passing rate, 5 tackles per match and won 90% his duels, topping the Primeira Liga's defensive stats, including an assist for David Neres goal in Benfica's 5–0 home win over Marítimo on 18 September, after winning a duel.[18] On 14 October, he agreed to a contract extension to 2027, increasing his buyout clause to €120 million.[19]
International career
Florentino earned 84 caps and scored 1 goal for Portugal across all youth levels, starting with a 2–1 win for the under-15 team against Switzerland in Campo Maior on 10 June 2014. He went with the under-17 team to the 2016 UEFA European Championship in Azerbaijan, helping his team win over neighbours Spain in the final.[20]
Florentino is known for being a tenacious and hardworking player who usually operates in front of his team's defense, acting as a defensive shield for his more attacking teammates. Known for his aggressive tackling, game-reading ability, and anticipation, he excels at breaking down plays, marking opponents, and timing his challenges effectively. In this role, he serves as a vital link, connecting defense and attack as the ball moves through the team.[27][28]
His strengths include his positional awareness, tactical discipline, intelligence, energy, and ball-winning skills. Beyond his defensive abilities, Florentino is a calm and precise passer with a keen sense of how to transition between attack and defense. He consistently makes accurate passes, quickly analyzing the positions of his teammates and opponents to choose the best option. Florentino also studies his opponents' movements, body posture, and available passing lanes before challenging for the ball, often intercepting and dispossessing them efficiently. His playing style has drawn comparisons to Claude Makélélé and N'Golo Kanté.[27][28]
Personal life
Florentino became engaged to his childhood sweetheart, Bruna Luís Guerreiro in 2020.[4]
