The rumors surrounding Benfica’s technical director, Pedro Marques, started when The Athletic journalist David Ornstein reported an interest on 16 March.
“This is the last step on the way to building the new structure under Michael Edwards. FSG wants Marques to benefit from his experience and expertise in such a project. The Portuguese will be employed by FSG, and not Liverpool,” he wrote then.
On Tuesday morning, it was reported from the same man that the signing had been completed, and that the Portuguese would be employed at Fenway Sports Group and not at Liverpool Football Club.
“Liverpool’s owners are in the process of appointing Benfica’s technical director, Pedro Marques, to build on the new football project. FSG is looking for his expertise in attracting global talent,” writes Ornstein.
Solid resume
Marques has previously been a performance analyst at Manchester City’s first team. Then Liverpool’s former sporting director, Julian Ward, was also a scout for the light blues. He later changed his position to head of training and analysis for the City Football Group, a group which includes Manchester City, Girona and New York City in its portfolio.
This is the kind of model FSG and Michael Edwards want to start with, and Marques will undoubtedly play an important role in building the project.
The Portugal link is also particularly interesting due to the persistent rumors that Sporting coach Ruben Amorim is favorite to take over the manager’s chair at Anfield from Jürgen Klopp.
Marques is perhaps best known in Liverpool circles in connection with Darwin Nunez’s transfer from Benfica to Liverpool in 2022. Then it was precisely the Portuguese who sat and discussed with Julian Ward, his former colleague in Manchester City.
