Source: Daily_Mail
HATCHET MAN: Don't blame Benfica for wanting nothing to do with Middlesborough flop Alves
Benfica have released a statement insisting that, despite reports to the contrary, they have never asked about the availability of Middlesbrough striker Afonso Alves.
Clubs don't usually like responding to speculation but the Portuguese probably acted to save themselves the humiliation of the link continuing.
Alves is to goalscoring what Alan Pardew is to television punditry and if Middlesbrough can offload him in the summer for any sort of fee they will have done well.
