 However, it was soon discovered that Toni had signed with an investment firm, Premier Holding owned by Mike Walsh.They retained his international certificate and did not allowed him to play for Benfica until they received 650 thousand dollars.Only in January 2002, after FIFA intervened, was he allowed to play, first in the reserve team and then in the main squad, making his first and only appearance for the latter on the last matchday of the campaign and being sent off in the last minutes of a 2–3 away loss against C.S.