19-year-old Benfica midfielder Joao Neves is being linked with a £100 million move to Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to reports, new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given the go ahead for the club to make a £100 million move for Benfica starlet Joao Neves ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
Neves’ arrival at Old Trafford would see him become the Red Devils’ new club-record signing, as the proposed fee would eclipse the £89 million paid to Juventus for Paul Pogba back in 2016.
There are question marks over the futures of several United midfielders following a topsy-turvy 2023/24 campaign, with the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay all being linked with potential exits, while Sofyan Amrabat is set to return to Fiorentina after an underwhelming loan spell.
A technically gifted, highly developed young central midfielder, could Benfica’s Neves be the answer to the endless list of problems within Erik ten Hag‘s midfield?
🧊 João Neves calmo sob pressão 🔥@SLBenfica I #UEL pic.twitter.com/38lHJXBoaz
— UEFA.com em português (@UEFAcom_pt) March 7, 2024
Who Is Joao Neves?
Neves was born and raised in Tavira, a fairly small town in the Algarve, Portugal in September 2004. A central midfielder by trade, he joined hometown club Casa Benfica Tavira, one of Benfica’s feeder clubs, before joining their development centre in the Algarve.
After spending four seasons within their development centre, and impressing during that time, Neves joined Benfica’s main academy in Lisbon in 2016, before going on to pen his first professional contract with the club in December 2020.
The 19-year-old would spend six years in the youth system at Benfica’s main academy, and was part of the club’s iconic 2021/22 UEFA Youth League winning Under-19 side that beat the likes of Midtjylland, Sporting, Juventus and Red Bull Salzburg on their way to the trophy.
His impressive performances at youth level would eventually see him called up to Benfica’s B team, for whom he made his professional debut in the Portuguese second tier in August 2022.
Neves was handed his unofficial debut for the first team against Sevilla in a behind closed-doors friendly just three months later, and was rewarded with a contract extension until the summer of 2028 10 days after.
He made his official debut for the first team in early 2023 as a late substitute against Braga in Liga Portugal. He went on to make a total of 17 league appearances for the first team during his breakthrough campaign, and made his Champions League debut in a 5-1 win over Club Brugge in the last-16, in which he registered an assist.
Since then, he has been a regular in Roger Schmidt’s side and has made an impressive 43 appearances across all competitions thus far this term.
Neves has also broken into the Portuguese national team’s senior side, having previously represented their Under-15, Under-19 and Under-21 teams, and has amassed a total of three caps for his nation after earning his first against Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2023.
The midfielder has been praised for his maturity at such a young age, and has been described as a quick, agile and technically gifted player. His passing, tackling, ball control and quick reactions have been highlighted as strengths, along with his stamina and composure on the ball.
Manchester United Captain Bruno Fernandes on Joao Neves
Speaking on Portugal teammate Neves, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes admitted that he would ‘love’ to have the young talent play alongside him at Old Trafford.
“It has to be the Manchester United coach who says whether he has a place in the team or not,” Fernandes said back in November.
“He’s a great player, I don’t know if he would have a place or not. It depends on the coach and his ideas. But he’s an excellent player and an excellent kid, very professional. He will have a bright future wherever he goes.
“I would love to have him by my side, because he has quality and will have a bright future. It depends on him. What I want most is the best for him.”
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
