Gustavo Varela is attracting a lot of interest: the first offers for the league’s surprise standout are already on the table

He arrived in Monza almost unnoticed, but in just a few weeks, Gustavo Varela has taken center stage. The Portuguese forward, born in 2005, is off to an extraordinary start to the season: eight goals in his first eight Serie A appearances—a tally that has propelled him to the top of the league’s scoring charts alongside Frosinone’s Raimondo. His performance has caught the attention of several clubs, all eager to closely follow his development.

Having come up through Benfica’s youth system, Varela gained experience with Benfica’s reserve team and Gil Vicente before joining the club in Brianza. His strength, as seen in this early stage of the season, lies in the versatility of his offensive repertoire: he knows how to make runs into space, play with his back to the goal, and use his physicality in the penalty area. He is not just a finisher, but a forward who is also capable of linking up with teammates and contributing to the team’s build-up play.

The young Portuguese player’s performances have not gone unnoticed. Giovanni Manna, Napoli’s sporting director, is closely monitoring the player, and according to reports in *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, he is preparing an offer to convince Monza to enter negotiations as early as January.

The Brianza-based club, however, has no intention of letting its center forward go easily, as he is under contract until 2030. Benfica is also closely monitoring the situation, backed by its share of any future transfer fee and the right to match any offers. The Azzurri will therefore have to contend with Monza’s stance and the conditions set by the Portuguese club.