How Benfica established themselves as major production line for European stars

These games also allow players to try new things, which might explain why Guardiola has taken a shine to Benfica graduates, thanks to their adaptability during matches.

“The modern player needs to be able to perform different roles and positions in the same game,” Magalhaes says. “Bernardo plays like a midfielder, then a winger. Joao Cancelo plays like a winger, then an offensive right-back. It makes them athletic, improves their knowledge and gives them a different view of the game.”

In addition to a footballing education, there is a commitment to prepare players for the outside world. Only a fraction of youths who go through the academy system make it as professionals, let alone at Benfica. Ten staff run the educational side of things within the club, where manners are almost as important as performances on the pitch.

“It is very important for us; we have a holistic approach. We don’t want to just develop the player, we want to develop the human being, so we have social and educational support at Benfica Campus with teachers and with a team that control the process in civil life,” Magalhaes says.

“We need to help not only the player but the human being. They need to develop their personality and be prepared to face the problems of life. Only a small percentage of players go on to a professional level.”

The academy is always trying to improve. Benfica have basketball, handball and hockey teams, allowing easy access to innovative coaching ideas. And they look to football clubs around the world for inspiration too; Marques worked for Manchester City for eight years, so he knows how other elite teams operate.

“We like to think talent can be born anywhere and good ideas can come from anywhere, too,” he says. “We are always challenging ourselves as we do not want to just sustain this success, we want to go beyond and keep improving every day.

“You can learn from other areas that are intimately connected with developing talent, like music, the arts, theatre. There are various ways we can get marginal gains and little nudges to our system on top of that.”

For every Felix or Dias, there will be plenty who do not make it. Their coaches treat each player equally, working on maximising their potential to ensure footballing success and financial sustainability for Benfica.

But as Marques says: “Our biggest purpose is to help them achieve their dreams.”