Genoa Set To Beat West Ham To ‘Incredible’ £4m Bargain Signing
The 26-year-old wants to move to Italy from Saudi Arabia this month.
Genoa are set to beat West Ham to the signing of Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento, according to reports.
Bento Chooses Genoa Over West Ham
The 26-year-old moved to Saudi Arabia from Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense in July 2024 and has made 59 appearances to date.
However, he has been usurped as the club’s No 1 by Saudi international Nawaf Al-Aqidi and now wants to leave. Bento has played just one game this season and has been used as a rotation option in cup competitions.
On the hunt for a new stopper, Premier League outfit West Ham made a loan-to-buy offer worth around £4million, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. The player has also informed Al-Nassr of his desire to move on this month.
Di Marzio has reported that Genoa have made an identical bid, with Bento preferring to move to Serie A.
The goalkeeper previously came close to moving to Italy and holds an Italian passport due to his heritage. This, it is believed, has helped sway him toward rebuffing a relegation dogfight in the English top-flight.
As revealed by FootItalia, Inter Milan closely monitored Bento in 2024 but did not make an official bid.
They did, however, make an informal enquiry to discuss the deal.
“Inter has only requested information,” Bento told ESPN. “They haven’t made an official offer.
“I’m glad they’re mentioning my name; it’s the result of my work and performances here at Atletico.
“If a genuine offer does come, we’ll see what happens. It’s about meeting with the club and my agents. So, if that does happen, it will be in the best interest of everyone.”
Former Inter full-back Maicon, a Champions League winner at the San Siro, admitted he had then expected Bento to join the club. Now, though, he finally looks set to seal his long-awaited switch to Italy.
Indeed, talks are expected to advance over the coming days.
‘Incredible’ Bento Would Be Solid Signing
Bento, who was hailed as ‘incredible’ by SPL.com, has earned six caps for Brazil, keeping three clean sheets.
He boasts several years of experience at an elite level, having made 116 appearances for Atletico Paranaense after progressing through their academy. He then completed his switch to Al-Nassr, signing a contract until 2028.
Genoa are searching for a new No 1 this month, having conceded too many goals and slipped into 17th place.
The club are keen to bring back Mattia Perin and restore him as their first-choice between the sticks. The custodian departed for Juventus in 2018 but has spent much of his spell in Turin playing second fiddle.
It is not currently known whether Perin is the priority target, with Bento instead acting as a backup option.
Dan Davis
Dan is an experienced sports journalist and part-time lecturer. An expert on Serie A and Italian football, he has produced content for the likes of the Daily Mail, Reach PLC, GiveMeSport, FourFourTwo and GRV Media. While Channel 4's iconic Football Italia was a bit before his time, the nostalgia - and pastries - fuelled his love of all things Calcio.
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