“Ivanovic faces nightmare at Benfica and reveals bold plan.”

Franjo Ivanovic, the young Croatian striker who joined Benfica last summer for €22.8 million, is going through a dark phase in his sporting career. His lack of playing time and absence of goals have raised questions about the player’s future with the Eagles. In the latest round of the Primeira Liga, Ivanovic was called up for the clash against Gil Vicente but found himself relegated to the bench, while the young Anísio Cabral, just 18 years old, was chosen to be part of the matchday squad. This situation exemplifies Ivanovic’s struggle to find a place in José Mourinho’s setup, who has been using Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis as the main reference in attack.

The numbers are alarming for the 22-year-old forward. In the last seven games, Ivanovic has accumulated just 25 minutes on the pitch, including one minute in the Champions League against Real Madrid and 19 minutes in a match against Aves SAD. Since Mourinho’s arrival, he has played only 762 minutes in 34 matches, which means an average of just over 22 minutes per game. His last appearance as a starter dates back to December 17, 2025, when he scored a goal in the 2-0 victory against Farense in the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup. Since then, the goal drought has been a constant in his career at Benfica.

The reasons for Ivanovic’s limited use have been explained by the coach himself. Mourinho argued that the player’s characteristics do not align with the style of play he wants to implement, choosing to use him in positions that are not his preferred ones, such as left wing. Although he has tried to adapt to these new roles, the truth is that the coach’s confidence in the young Croatian seems to be waning.

The January market brought new speculation about Ivanovic’s future. Benfica’s SAD considered signing a new striker and showed interest in Lorenzo Lucca, but the Italian decided to move to Nottingham Forest. Benfica ultimately opted to give more opportunities to Anísio, which further complicated Ivanovic’s situation.

According to sources close to the player, Ivanovic is frustrated with his performance this season but shows an unwavering determination to turn his fortunes around, focusing on training and seizing the opportunities that Mourinho offers him until the end of the season. With a contract until 2030 and a release clause of 100 million euros, the player’s future at the club will be discussed in the summer, but the pressure to establish himself is mounting.

In addition to the challenges at the club, Ivanovic faces another significant concern: the possibility of not being called up for this year’s World Cup. The player, who shone with 20 goals in 46 matches for Union St. Gilloise, now finds himself competing with other strikers who are also standing out, such as Dion Drena Belja, who has 20 goals in 33 matches for Dinamo Zagreb. The situation is becoming critical for Ivanovic, who dreams of representing his national team in the biggest football competition in the world.

With a season marked by ups and downs, Franjo Ivanovic’s struggle is a testament to the harshness of modern football. It remains to be seen whether the young Croatian will be able to turn his situation around at Benfica and secure his place in the upcoming World Cup.