SL Benfica have denied holding talks with Manchester United on the transfer of Joao Neves. But who is the rising star earning interest from Arsenal and Manchester City?
Well, Neves is one of the most in-demand young midfielders in Europe after stepping up to fill Enzo Fernandez’s void. Benfica promoted their academy product into the first-team fold after selling the 2022 World Cup winner to Chelsea. But Europe’s elite are now eying Neves.
Sources have confirmed to HITC Football that Manchester United are showing an interest in Neves but have not spoken to Benfica about a transfer this month. It was suggested that the Red Devils used the discussions for selling Alvaro Fernandez to place themselves for Neves.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City scout SL Benfica star Joao Neves
Scouts working for Manchester United identified Neves as a potential transfer target for the future while tracking Antonio Silva. Both Benfica aces now hold huge interest at Old Trafford as the Red Devils plot their upcoming swoops. But As Aguias insist they have not held talks.
“Benfica denies the existence of any right of first refusal over its player Joao Neves,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday. “Under no circumstances has Benfica entered into talks with Manchester United or any other club about this player from its youth academy – nor does it intend to do so. So, any information to the contrary is false.”
HITC Football understands that Manchester United established good relations with Benfica through their negotiations relating to Fernandez’s transfer, however. But the Red Devils are far from alone in admiring Neves, with Manchester City paying particularly close attention.
The Citizens are among the most active clubs in scouting Neves, who also has interest from Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, SSC Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain. But who is Neves? Here is everything you need to know about the Benfica product attracting European-wide interest…
Who is Arsenal and Manchester United transfer target Joao Neves?
Joao Neves is a rising star of the Benfica first-team squad having joined their senior fold in December 2022. As Aguias promoted their academy product into Roger Schmidt’s team as a ready-made replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who Chelsea paid £107m for in January 2023.
His continued rise at the Estadio da Luz has also now seen Arsenal, Manchester United, Man City and many European rivals show an interest in Neves’ transfer. But Benfica have no plans to let their homegrown talent leave Lisbon any time soon. He has a contract until June 2028.
The contract Benfica awarded Neves in August 2023 also included a €120m (£103m) release clause. It further brought him in line with their first-team pay structure as recognition of the club holding the midfielder in high regard. As Aguias would likely want the clause to sell him.
Where and when was Joao Neves born?
Benfica wonderkid Neves was born in the small city of Tavira on Portugal’s Algarve coast on September 27, 2004. As of the last census in 2021, the population of Tavira was just 27,500 people. Tavira’s population has also only grown by 2,500 since 2001 and 1,400 since 2011.
What position does Joao Neves play?
Joao Neves has predominantly trained to play in the position of a defensive midfielder but can play throughout the core. He has enjoyed sporadic appearances as a central midfielder and a playmaker in his fledgling career. Neves has even played as a winger from both sides.
How good is Joao Neves?
Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City are showing an interest in the transfer of one of Europe’s most promising young midfielders in SL Benfica talent Joao Neves. He is already a vital part of Roger Schmidt’s engine room at the Estadio da Luz and now with Portugal, too.
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez awarded Neves his senior Selecao debut back in October. He has since afforded the prospect a total of three caps, each over Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. But the midfielder is still yet to start a senior fixture for his country to date.
Neves earned a raft of caps at the Under-15, 19 and 21 levels for Portugal before his senior breakthrough last year. He also blew Martinez away with how quickly the teenager became established in the Selecao’s squad. The coach could not believe his maturity at a young age.
Martinez told Canal 11: “Neves reached the national team at 19 and showed a personality and maturity that surprised me a lot. I’ve never seen a situation like Neves in my career. In two days, he gained the respect of the entire Portugal locker room.”
Luis Castro also believes Neves ‘has everything’ after nurturing his development in Benfica’s U19 and U23 sides. While seeing the midfielder make his first start in the Champions League and pull the strings against RB Salzburg in September proved that Neves is totally ‘complete’.
“[Neves] plays in the competition as if it were training or an exercise,” Castro told O Jogo. “It is natural that he becomes more and more valued. His quality is visible to everyone, he does everything well. At this age, he seems to have more experience.
“It’s the result of the speed at which his brain works. He has great defensive and offensive positioning [and] he knows the whole game. It’s not surprising that he is at this level.”
Castro added: “[Neves is] a complete and very intelligent player. The Premier League is the best league in the world and not only would he be able to adapt, he would play and shine.”
Joao Neves’ stats at SL Benfica
Roger Schmidt gave Joao Neves his senior debut for Benfica in December 2022 and he has continued to flourish since. The Tavira native has also spent nearly his entire career so far for As Aguias after joining in 2016. He has since risen up through their age ranks at a rapid rate.
Under-19, SL Benfica: 14 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists
Under-23, SL Benfica: 13 appearances, 0 goals, 2 assists
B-team, SL Benfica: 11 appearances, 0 goals, 1 assist
First-team, SL Benfica: 49 appearances, 2 goals, 3 assists
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