Benfica's sporting director has admitted they will not be able to keep reported Manchester United target Joao Felix at the club forever.
The teenager has impressed in Portugal this season and reports claim United have sent scouts to watch the forward on several occasions this season.
Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all also thought to be interested in the 19-year-old and Manuel Rui Costa, Benfica's sporting director, has given the clubs hope.
“We will try to keep him as long as possible and that is the case for Felix as for any other player," he told Tuttosport.
“This is the club’s policy. Then we’ll see. We are aware of the clauses exist for a reason and that certain players cannot be held back in Portugal indefinitely.”
Should United want to sign him they would have to stump up his huge €120m release clause.
The teenager, who has scored 12 goals for the first team this season, answered speculation about his future earlier in the month.
On whether it is a 'crazy' figure, Felix said: "Maybe, yes. But I do not understand the market or values, these are issues of representatives and presidents. I just play."
Last month Benfica's president Luis Filipe Vieira insisted Benfica will be under no pressure to sell any of their talented young players for anything less than their release clause.
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“Each day, the club is more solid and robust, more and more autonomous. Today we no longer have to make ineligible sales to balance our accounts," he said.
“I reaffirm that we have no objective to sell our main players who have now arrived from Seixal. With each passing day, these young talents are more valued and prove the good vision, direction and strategy we had.
“As a first step, the need to overcome financial constraints has led to the need to make and take advantage of some sales opportunities. Today, only legal requirements defined by the clauses of sales clauses can lead us to this.”
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