Jhon Duran’s Benfica Struggles in the Primeira Liga After Fred Claims

Jhon Duran’s career has taken another unexpected turn at Benfica, where the Colombia international has scored twice in 12 appearances since the start of the season. The 22-year-old arrived in Portugal after moving through four clubs in less than two years, following a period in which his progress appeared to have stalled. His current situation has been placed under further scrutiny by comments from Fred, who played alongside him at Fenerbahçe.

Fred described Duran as a talented but unusually unconcerned teammate during an appearance on the Charla podcast. “This guy does not care about anything, my friend, how funny he is,” Fred said. “He is a great guy but he really does not care about anything.” The former Manchester United player’s account focused less on Duran’s ability than on his attitude towards training and the financial rewards of his career.

According to Fred, he once encouraged Duran to join him for extra running. Duran’s response was: “My brother, I am already rich, I do not need to run.” When Duran later moved to Zenit Saint Petersburg, Fred said he told him that he would earn even more money. The answer, as recalled by Fred, was: “My brother, the more money, the better.” Fred also said Duran sometimes claimed that he had already secured his future and that of his family for the next three generations.

Fred added that Duran initially attended training at Zenit before eventually stopping. That account is presented as a personal recollection of their time together and does not provide a complete explanation for Duran’s subsequent performances. It does, however, offer a stark picture of a player whose priorities may have shifted quickly after securing a major contract and moving into a different stage of his career.

Duran’s rise had seemed to point in another direction. After joining Aston Villa in the summer of 2023, he emerged as one of the most prominent young attacking players in Europe at the beginning of the following season. He scored 12 goals in 29 matches during that period, form that helped create expectations of a major future in the game. He also established himself as a Colombia international, collecting 17 caps and scoring three goals.

Those performances led Al-Nassr to pay €77 million for him during the winter transfer window in 2025. The size of the fee placed Duran among the most expensive young forwards in the market and represented a major investment in his potential. His time in Saudi Arabia, however, did not develop into the sustained breakthrough that had been expected. He was subsequently loaned to Fenerbahçe, where he made 21 appearances and scored five goals, before moving to Zenit, registering two goals in nine matches.

The Benfica figures show a further decline in output, at least so far. Duran has scored two goals in 12 appearances since arriving at the Portuguese club, making this his fifth team in under two years. The sequence has moved him from a promising role at Aston Villa to a series of short spells in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia and Portugal. Each change has offered a new opportunity, but none has yet restored the scoring rate that made him such a highly valued prospect.

His reported earnings provide an important part of the context surrounding Fred’s comments. Duran is said to earn close to €20 million gross per year, a figure described as comparable with the estimated annual income of some of Europe’s leading players. The salary is not evidence of his motivation or performance by itself, but it helps explain why statements about already being financially secure have attracted attention. The contrast between that level of income and his recent scoring record is central to the debate around his career.

At Benfica, Duran now has the chance to establish continuity after a period defined by constant movement. The club represents his fifth stop in less than two years, while his latest numbers show that the immediate challenge is to turn potential into regular production. Fred’s remarks have intensified questions about the Colombian’s commitment, but the measurable record remains clear: 12 goals in 29 matches at Aston Villa, followed by five in 21 for Fenerbahçe, two in nine for Zenit and two in 12 for Benfica. His next stage will be judged by whether he can make the Portuguese club a lasting platform rather than another brief stop.