If your club sets your release clause at over £100m, it usually means you’re something special. That certainly seems to be the case for Joao Neves, the young Benfica midfielder anticipated to make a significant move this summer.
At the age of 19, Neves has received high praise from Manchester United and Arsenal, but according to experts, Paris St-Germain will be the most ideal destination in his football career. this player trang web cá cược uy tín.
Before turning 20, the teenager has already helped his boyhood club secure a league title and played in a European Championship.
Will Neves follow in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, and Enzo Fernandez to become another one of the Lisbon giants’ notable exports?
Neves, a product of the Benfica academy, earned his spot in the starting XI following Fernandez’s departure.
The youngster made his debut on January 1, 2023, just before Chelsea set a British transfer record by bringing Argentine midfielder Fernandez to the Premier League on deadline day later that month.
“With the absence of player Enzo, the quality of our playing squad has decreased significantly” this is a sharing from coach Filipe Ingles when participating in the Benfica FM program, he is also afraid of titles. The championship will be lost from the team’s hands in the future.
Boss Roger Schmidt turned to Neves during the run-in, and the midfielder repaid that faith by scoring in a crucial 2-2 draw with rivals Sporting, which helped secure the league title for the first time in four years.
“The next game we won, became champions, and Joao Neves was the hero who saved the day in the dying moments,” says Ingles.
Neves has since made 50 appearances in Primeira Liga, including 33 official appearances, with 4 goals and 1 assist for a teammate.
“He became a regular in the starting XI and was likely our best player throughout the season,” adds Ingles. “There were matches where the manager and the team faced boos, but never him. The Benfica fans see him as one of their own, and he consistently performs well and gives his all.”
The midfielder also made his international breakthrough, appearing nine times for Portugal so far, including in two of their Euro 2024 matches.
What can we expect from Joao Neves?
Neves is frequently deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, ranking fourth in the Primeira Liga for passes into the final third last season and third for tackles won.
“Many people in Portugal draw comparisons with Joao Moutinho,” says Ingles, who also likens his style to that of Xavi or Andres Iniesta.
“He is considered an all-round player. Although he plays in the midfield position, he can defend, pass the ball, choose positions, keep the ball stable as well as score goals.”
“You can see that he’s constantly moving and thinking about the game, never taking a moment to relax or losing his positioning. And he’s exceptionally comfortable with the ball.”
At just 19 and with less than two full seasons of top-flight football under his belt, Neves has already shown himself to be “incredibly mature,” according to Ingles.
“He earned a spot in the starting XI for the most intense games,” he adds. “It felt as if he had been in that role for a decade.”
“His mother passed away a few months ago, yet he was back on the field shortly after, even though Benfica had given him time to grieve.”
Neves was also the player who stepped up after what Ingles describes as an “embarrassing” 5-0 defeat to Porto last season Thapcam TV.
“He was the one who came out to speak with the fans after the game,” he says. “Not Otamendi, not Di Maria. He was the one who addressed the press.”
Is this the right moment for a transfer?
Benfica president Rui Costa confirmed to Portuguese newspaper A Bola that a bid for Neves had been received, though he did not disclose the identity of the interested party.
“Currently, I am receiving an invitation to join my favorite team with extremely good benefits” said the Portugal legend.
“At this time, Joao Neves is still a Benfica player. I’m not trying to keep anything secret, as I understand that Benfica fans want clarity on whether Joao will be staying or leaving.”
“I’m not trying to obscure the details; I know Benfica fans are eager to find out if Joao will be staying or moving on.”
In response to speculation that Neves would only depart if his £101m release clause were met, the president clarified, “I never stated that Joao Neves would only leave if his release clause was triggered, so those reports are incorrect.”
Ingles worries that a transfer might be premature for the player but thinks Neves might adapt more easily to France’s Ligue 1 than to the Premier League.
“Even with his maturity, I believe he’s making the same mistake as Joao Felix, Goncalo Ramos, or Renato Sanches: leaving too early,” he says.
“I’m not sure if he’s fully ready yet. As with Darwin Nunez, being excellent in the Portuguese league is one thing, but it’s a different challenge in the top five European leagues.”
“In Portugal, if you’re good, you stand out. In England, however, everyone around you is just as good or even better, which makes it a struggle. He’s quite small, and I’m unsure if he would handle the physical demands of the Premier League.”
Is he on a path to the very top?
“I would bet that he will have a solid career and become a very good player, though he may not reach world-class status,” Ingles adds. “However, he is only 19 years old now, there is still a bright future waiting for him.”
