Three days before Sidny Lopes Cabral signed a contract for Benfica, in anticipation of the game against SC Braga for the championship, on December 27, 2025, José Mourinho publicly analyzed the characteristics of the Cape Verdean international: «He is one of those players in whom the team benefits a lot because he is truly versatile. You can see that, for him, it's the same playing on the right, on the left, on the wing or on the wing. This gives the coach security, a bit like Aursnes. Both play in four positions. I know he can play in all four and is happy to play in all four, but there is always one in which the player is stronger. I'm going to have to help him find out, because he doesn't know very well himself.” Sidny Lopes Cabral has played seven games for Benfica: Benfica–Estoril (Liga, 13', as left winger), Benfica–SC Braga (League Cup, 25', as left winger), FC Porto–Benfica (Taça de Portugal, 83', as left winger), Rio Ave–Benfica (Liga, 28', again left winger), Benfica–Estrela da Amadora (Liga, 90', left wing), Tondela–Benfica (Liga, 28', in the right wing position) and Benfica–Alverca (Liga, 73', in the right defense position). Total: 340 minutes. Of the four possible positions, he has already played in three: left wing, right wing and right defender. He therefore needs to play in the position where Samuel Dahl has been a regular: the left side of the defense. It shouldn't be on Friday, against Santa Clara, as Dedic will likely remain out of the lineup to prepare, 100%, for the games against Real Madrid. Sidny or Banjaqui will most likely play on the right and Dahl on the left. In any case, the Cape Verde international, signed from Estrela da Amadora for a fee of around €6 million, has worked as a true utility player, capable of serving anywhere with reliability. He wasn't a big name when he arrived, even before the opening of the winter market window, but he's starting to gain his place and he even had the chance to assist and celebrate a goal, in the rout of Estrela da Amadora.
