What happened: AC Milan have not approached Benfica over defender Antonio Silva, with no agreement reached and no discussion held on personal terms despite circulating reports. Benfica, meanwhile, have spent weeks in talks aimed at handing Silva a new contract. The reported link between the player and the Italian side has been firmly knocked down.

Why it matters: The clarification cools one of the summer's recurring transfer storylines and reframes Silva's situation as a renewal rather than a sale. For Benfica, locking down a young centre-back protects both their squad spine and their leverage in any future negotiation. For Milan, it closes off a target that had been attached to them in the rumor cycle.

What to watch: Watch whether Benfica can finalize the new deal in the coming weeks, and whether any rival club tests the situation with a concrete offer.