Colombian winger Gonzalez eyes Benfica return

BOGOTA - Colombian winger Yonny Gonzalez could leave Brazil's Corinthians to return to Portuguese club Benfica, his agent said on Monday.

The 25-year-old joined Corinthians in February on a five-month loan with a purchase option, just a month after he signed a long-term deal with Benfica.

"Corinthians can make the deal permanent at the end of June. If that doesn't happen, he will go back to Benfica, where he has another four-year contract," agent Gianluca de Franco told Colombian news service Gol Caracol.

Franco said Gonzalez's prospects of remaining in Brazil were hampered by the country's struggle to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

Football has been suspended in the South American country since mid-March, and it is not clear when competitions will resume there.

Meanwhile, Portugal's Primeira Liga is scheduled to return from its coronavirus shutdown on June 4.

"Corinthians are a great club ... but unfortunately, Yonny has only played four games so far. We don't know when the league could be restarted in Brazil," Franco added.

Gonzalez began his career at Envigado before spells at Junior Barranquilla and Fluminense.