Portuguese forward Gustavo Varela inspires first Monza win of the season with decisive brace
Gustavo Varela delivered the performance his new supporters had been waiting for. The 21-year-old Portuguese striker, sold by Benfica to Italian side Monza this summer, scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo on Friday — the club's first win of the 2026/27 Serie A campaign.
Varela opened the scoring in the 51st minute with a composed finish, then doubled his tally from the penalty spot 12 minutes later. Vasilije Adzic pulled one back for the visitors in the 88th minute, but Monza held on for three crucial points. The forward's performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
A fast start in Italy
The brace takes Varela's tally to six goals across all competitions this season — four in Serie A and two in the Coppa Italia. The statistics underline an immediate impact: in just five appearances for his new club, the Portuguese youth international has already matched the goal-scoring rate that convinced Monza to invest in him.
According to match data, Varela registered 0.90 expected goals against Sassuolo, completed 17 of 21 passes, and created three key chances. His non-penalty goals and expected goals figures place him in the 77th and 86th percentiles respectively among forwards in Europe's top seven leagues.
From Benfica to Bergamo
Varela's path to Italy began in Benfica's academy. After joining from Sporting's youth setup in January 2022, he made 56 appearances for the B team, scoring 14 goals in the second tier. The breakthrough into the first-team squad proved limited.
The Benfica board arranged a loan move to Gil Vicente for the 2025/26 season. Varela responded with seven goals and three assists in 33 league appearances, showcasing the potential that had attracted attention in Lisbon.
Monza moved decisively in July 2026, paying an initial €2 million for a permanent transfer, with performance-related bonuses potentially taking the fee to €3.5 million. Benfica negotiated a 20 per cent sell-on clause and retained a buy-back option.
How Monza use him
Manager Ivan Juric has built his attack around Varela's strengths. Monza operate a 3-4-2-1 formation focused on direct transitions, and the Portuguese striker occupies the central attacking role. His 1.84m frame and right-footed finishing suit a system designed to create chances through rapid counter-attacks.
Juric has worked individually with Varela since pre-season, believing the forward has significant room for development. The coach's strategy of pairing him with experienced forwards in training aims to accelerate that growth.
What this means for Benfica
The early returns suggest Benfica's selling model continues to function. For a player who featured just 42 times for the B team in 2024/25, generating €2 million immediately with add-ons and sell-on protection represents sound business.
The comparison with other Portuguese forwards sold by Benfica is inevitable. Gonçalo Ramos commanded a fee exceeding €65 million when he moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023. Varela's transfer operates on a different scale, but the principle remains: develop talent, create first-team opportunities — either at home or abroad — and monetise effectively.
Varela will now focus on maintaining his scoring form when Monza return to action after the international break.
