Rui Costa stated that Rafa is a player of Besiktas and not a player of Benfica, and that it is not worth it. Costa also refused the idea that the 32-year-old winger would be a Christmas present for Benfica's fans.

According to Record, Rafa Silva is dissatisfied at Besiktas and could return to Benfica. The publication also reports that the Portuguese club is monitoring the situation to potentially bring the player back. The president of Besiktas, Serdal Adali, said in a press conference that Rafa initially expressed a desire to leave football but then revised his intention and indicated a desire to move elsewhere. Adali said that if Rafa wants to leave, he must respect the release clause, and that his contract is valid for another year and a half.

According to A BOLA, Benfica will only sign Rafa if he terminates his contract with Besiktas and wants to return to Portugal.

Turkish media state that departure rumors are intensifying for Rafa Silva, who is not training at Besiktas due to an injury. The reports add that Benfica would also be interested in his return and is closely monitoring the player.

Fanatik reports that the Portuguese press has claimed Rafa Silva is preparing to return to Benfica in January. It was stated that the transfer is expected to be finalised during the winter transfer window, due to good dialogue between Benfica and Beşiktaş. It was also noted that the player misses his family and country and for that reason wants to return to his former team and then retire from football in Portugal.

According to A BOLA, Benfica is monitoring the conflict between Rafa Silva and Besiktas and is evaluating the possibility of signing him, but only under very special conditions. There have not yet been any formal contacts, as Benfica does not consider this the appropriate time.

Jose Mourinho, who became the manager of Benfica after his time at Fenerbahçe, has made Rafa Silva his primary target for the January transfer window. Mourinho knows the 32-year-old from Turkey and reportedly considers him a target to increase the team's attacking creativity. Reports from the Portuguese press state that Benfica is prepared to make a 1.5-year contract offer if Silva's departure from Beşiktaş becomes official. The player is close to leaving due to disciplinary and performance-focused discussions and issues with the management, and the situation is said to be near a critical stage. Despite the situation, Beşiktaş is not hurrying to evaluate incoming offers for the player, whose market value is around 7 million Euro and who has a contract until 2027. The Portuguese international, who joined Beşiktaş in July 2024, has scored one goal in five Süper Lig appearances this season and has also been linked with Al Ahli. The Beşiktaş president, Serdal Adalı, and coach, Sergen Yalçın, are expected to make important statements about Rafa Silva's situation in a press conference scheduled for today.