Portuguese champions Benfica have confirmed full-back Alex Grimaldo has extended his deal with the club until 2023.
The former Barcelona B left-back, who is said to carry a price tag of €40m, had been linked to a number of clubs in both Spain and Italy due to his fine form in Lisbon.
The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in the past by Spanish media, with Filipe Luis and Lucas Hernandez both leaving the club this summer – although Brazilian Renan Lodi was signed.
Grimaldo joined the Portuguese club from Barcelona’s B side in 2016 in a €1.5m deal and previously came close to joining Napoli last summer.
The reports have nicknamed the left-back as being ‘the next Jordi Alba’ and had been reported with a move away from the Lisbon-based club next year – with a return to Barcelona also touted, with Juventus and Tottenham also linked.