Fred's account of Jhon Durán is the sharpest detail in a story that has shifted from form to mentality. The former Manchester United midfielder says the striker told him, “Bro, I'm already rich. I don't need to run,” and that he would head to the medical department and slack off. Fred also says Durán replied, “Bro, the more the better,” when money came up.
Fred's account of Durán
Fred did not stop at one line. He said Durán talked as if the basic work of training was optional, and the money talk went further than that. Jose Mourinho also added a warning at Fenerbahçe, saying: “There are clear rules here, and those who do not comply with them will face consequences.”
That is the uncomfortable frame around the player now. Durán has made 6 Primeira Liga appearances for Benfica in 2026 and has 1 league goal, with a 6.59 rating across the competition. He also played 80 minutes in Benfica's latest Europa League outing.
The slide from Aston Villa to Benfica
The numbers behind the decline are hard to ignore. Durán scored 7 league goals in the first half of the 2024-25 campaign for Aston Villa, then moved to Al Nassr for £71m on deadline day and has played 13 Saudi Pro League games since signing in January 2025. He is now at Benfica, where the return has been much thinner.
There is still talent in the profile, and John McGinn and Unai Emery both described a player with ability who also needed more from his day-to-day habits. McGinn called him “a bit nuts” and “a nightmare sometimes to have in your team”, while Emery said he needed to “learn, to work hard every day, and to respect his team-mates.”
Durán was described as 21 in one part of the source report and 22 in another. The bigger point is the same either way, he is still young, but the move to Benfica has not yet repaired the scoring touch that once made him such a fast-rising forward.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
