This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. Rafael Obrador detailed six months of limited playing time at Benfica on the podcast El After de Post United. The left-back joined the Eagles in the summer of 2025, after a successful season at Deportivo (33 games and one assist). Obrador expected to return to La Coruña, but the Eagles turned things around: "In the summer, Depor wanted to extend the loan, but I only had one more year left on my contract with Real Madrid. Initially, I wanted to go back to Depor, but suddenly I received offers on two consecutive days, and one of them was from Benfica." His Spanish past in the left defensive corridor made the decision easier: "The last top full-backs to leave the club were Grimaldo, a Spaniard trained at Barcelona, and Carreras, a Spaniard trained at Real Madrid. It caught my attention; it could be an opportunity to grow. When they talked to me about Benfica, I didn't think twice." Obrador also denied being included in the deal that took Carreras to Madrid: "I was told I wasn't part of it; I don't think so." The Spanish U-21 international did not hide the shock associated with moving to a club of the Eagles' stature for five million euros. "I knew how big Benfica was, but once inside, it's inevitable to be surprised. To start with, the stadium is incredible, huge, beautiful. Benfica's facilities are on par with Real Madrid's; the pitches, the locker rooms, the gym, everything is amazing," he admitted. Obrador also praised the "incredible" fans whose support extended to any stadium. "Playing away was like playing at home. If you went to a stadium with a capacity of 5,000 spectators, 4,000 were Benfica fans." Obrador's compliments extended to the locker room, which welcomed him warmly. Nervousness, however, marked the adaptation process: "I went from playing in the second division to a Champions League club. I arrived very nervous in the locker room, and my place was next to Otamendi. Without knowing me, on the first day, he immediately said, 'Shall we take a picture?' They received me very well." Obrador praised the captain as "calm," "attentive," and "playful" and admitted a "great regret" for not asking him for a jersey. Otamendi, Richard Ríos, and Prestianni helped ease his adaptation to Portugal. The left-back emphasized that the 20-year-old Argentine winger "was an important support" at a time when he "was not getting minutes" and "understood Portuguese but couldn't speak it very well." "Gian always supported me; we helped each other in training. As a friend, he's top-notch. What happened later [alleged racist insults to Vinicius Jr.], I saw from the outside," he explained. Obrador's playing time at Benfica was minimal during the first half of the season. The left-back even accumulated 67 minutes in the match against Tondela on August 23, 2025, still under Bruno Lage as coach, but did not play again for the Eagles' first team. The Spanish defender never played a minute under José Mourinho's management. The lack of playing time prompted a frank conversation between the two: "Once he asked to talk to me. He told me he trusted me, but Dahl was having a very good season, and it was complicated for him to take out a player who was playing so well." Obrador emphasized that the Portuguese coach is "very close" to the locker room. Nevertheless, the lack of minutes led to his departure in the winter. The solution benefited all parties: "I had no opportunities. When January came, we talked to the club; I gave my opinion, and it also didn't interest them for me to be idle. We decided that the best option was to go on loan to gain rhythm and experience elsewhere." Rafael Obrador was loaned to Torino until the end of the season with a purchase option clause of 9 million euros. The left-back has one assist in nine games played for the Italian team. Obrador explained the move to a more "physical" league, with a "more old-school mentality, let's say, but "more competitive" compared to Portugal. "I felt I could grow a lot in such a competitive league. I'm happy; I'm getting opportunities, and I feel it's going to be very positive for me," he admitted. Rafael Obrador chose Yeremay as the best teammate he has ever had. The quality of the Deportivo winger, a former love of Sporting, impressed the left-back when they coexisted in La Coruña in 2024/25: "He's an incredible person, a great game-changer, and he's very much Depor. He had options to leave for clubs in other leagues and preferred to stay several times." "Depor has something that makes you feel connected. At least it happened to me, and it did to Yeremay too. If Chelsea calls you, and you're playing in the second division, and you stay… It showed a brutal feeling," he emphasized.
Benfica Rafael Obrador remains central to this story.
Benfica Rafael Obrador remains central to this story.
Read more in La Liga news. and related tags: Benfica, Rafael Obrador.