Benfica will not be hurried into a call on Claudio Echeverri, despite the Manchester City loanee making a strong early impression in Portugal.
Marco Silva has moved to cool talk of an imminent permanent transfer, insisting the club can afford to wait before deciding whether to trigger their option to buy.
Silva: Benfica have no doubts over quality
Speaking about the 20-year-old's start to life at the Estádio da Luz, Silva made clear that the Argentine's ability is not in question. According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the Benfica boss said the club are pleased with Echeverri and have no doubts about his quality.
What he did stress, though, is the need for patience. Echeverri has only made a handful of appearances, and Silva believes there is plenty of time to assess him properly.
That measured tone is understandable. The midfielder arrived on a season-long loan from City in September, with Benfica confirming at the time that the deal includes an option to buy. A Bola has reported the figure at €21million.
Echeverri keen to stay
Echeverri himself has already signalled his happiness in Lisbon. He recently admitted it would be "wonderful" to remain at Benfica beyond his loan spell.
Such sentiment is unlikely to fade if his form continues. The former River Plate man, who moved to Europe from the Argentine giants, remains a highly-rated young player and an Argentina international.
City, for their part, have not left themselves without a safety net. The Blues retain a mechanism which could allow them to bring Echeverri back in the future, ensuring they keep a degree of control over a player they clearly rate.
For now, though, the focus is on his development in Portugal. Silva's calm approach suggests Benfica will take their time — and that City can afford to watch with interest rather than urgency.