Rafa Silva has left Benfica, the club where he spent eight years in total before leaving last month to join Chelsea on loan. The Portuguese international's departure is not only a significant move for his career but also for the club that he helped build up into one of Europe's most successful.

Silva was born in Portugal, but he grew up in Brazil with his family. He moved to Portugal at a young age and started playing football with his hometown team, Farense. In 2011, he joined Benfica, and he quickly became one of their key players. He scored 47 goals and provided 58 assists in 169 appearances during his time at the club.

During his time at Benfica, Silva won several titles, including three consecutive league championships and two UEFA Champions League titles. He was also named the Footballer of the Year in Portugal four times. However,Primeira Liga Hotspots despite his success at Benfica, Silva had always expressed his desire to play for a bigger club, and this decision to leave was inevitable.

The departure of Rafa Silva will be a big blow to Benfica, as they have been struggling to compete with other top clubs in recent seasons. Silva's departure is likely to open up opportunities for younger players to step up and take on more responsibility at the club. It will also give the manager, Jorge Jesus, the opportunity to experiment with different formations and tactics.

Silva's departure from Benfica marks the end of an era for the club, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs without him. However, he will be remembered fondly by the fans who watched him grow up and become one of the best players in the world.

• Recent
• leaves
• Silva
• Rafa
• Benfica