Ruben Neves’ next destination could be Barcelona or Saudi Arabia.
The Portuguese midfielder is a quality midfielder. At 6’2″, he has a solid build and is the ‘spine’ of the midfield thanks to his work rate and precise kicks. He also has a good kick, which allows him to open the scoring with a single shot from mid-range, and he is quite accurate in dead-ball situations, such as corners and free kicks.
He grew up in the ‘prestigious’ Portuguese club Porto. He gained experience through the age-group teams and made his senior debut in the 2014-15 season. Despite his rookie year, he got a lot of playing time, making 34 appearances, including cup competitions.
However, life in Porto was difficult. His place in the team dwindled and by the 2016-17 season, he was relegated to the rotation and didn’t play more than 1000 minutes.
To resolve the situation, he sought a transfer. Wolverhampton, then in the English second tier, approached him and Neves headed to England.
The move was a success. In his first year, Neves established himself as a starter for the team. In the league alone, he scored six goals and provided one assist in 42 games, helping the team win promotion to the top flight.
In the English Premier League (EPL), he didn’t slow down. In fact, he improved. In 2018-19, he scored five goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances, including cup competitions, to establish himself as one of the league’s top midfielders. Behind Neves, Wolverhampton finished seventh in the league and qualified for the UEFA Europa League (UEL) the following season.
Neves was consistent. He led the team with the form of a steel king and played at least 30 league games every season. Even in 2022-23, he was an ace, scoring six goals and providing one assist in 41 appearances, including cup competitions.
However, it is unclear whether he will extend his stay with Wolverhampton. He has one year left on his contract, but there are no renewal issues. In this situation, Barcelona have been monitoring him. They have been pursuing Neves since last winter and recently reached a personal agreement. “Neves has signed a personal agreement with Barcelona on a long-term contract and is now waiting for a response from the club,” said European soccer transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano.토토사이트
The personal agreement is done. With Wolverhampton also positive about the sale, it seemed like a deal between the clubs would be finalized quickly, but talks have since stalled. This is because Neves was not a “priority target” for Xavi Hernandez. “Neves is waiting for an answer from Barcelona, but he is not a priority for Xavi,” Romano added.
That’s where the Saudis come in. “Saudi club Al-Hilal is pushing hard to sign Neves,” said Matteo Moretto of Spanish outlet Relevo. Negotiations are ongoing.”