Saviola set for Benfica stay

Benfica have exercised a clause in Javier Saviola’s contract to tie the Argentine to the Liga Sagres club for at least one more season.

The former Barcelona and Real Madrid man, whose previous agreement ran until the end of the 2011/12 season, joined the Lisbon club in 2009 on a three-year contract with the option of one additional year.

Benfica have now confirmed they have decided to keep the former Real Madrid and Barcelona forward.

“(Benfica) has exercised their right to extend the employment contract that currently binds the team’s athlete Javier Pedro Saviola Fernandez for another sporting season,” a club statement to the stock exchange read.

Saviola is currently the highest paid player in Liga Sagres, with a reported annual salary of five million euros. The 30-year-old has scored four goals in 10 league games this season.