Portuguese giants Benfica paid Inter a total of around €5.5 million to sign midfielder Joao Mario during last summer transfer window.
This according to today’s print edition of Portuguese newspaper Record, who report that the total value of the deal came to €5.5 million based on the Lisbon-based club’s accounts.
Mario had left Inter via a termination of his contract by mutual consent in the summer so that he could make the switch to Benfica.
This was due to a clause in his initial sale to the Nerazzurri from Benfica’s city rivals Sporting CP which would have potentially penalized the Nerazzurri for allowing the player to join Benfica.
Mario technically joined Benfica as a free agent, but as part of the deal the Portuguese side were reported to have made other payments as compensation for the midfielder.
According to the Record, these payments totalled around €5.5 million as part of their unorthodox arrangement with the Nerazzurri.
