João Neves has been one of the stars in the Portuguese league for Benfica this season despite only recently making his debut last year. One of the best things about soccer is that talents emerge almost every season, which has helped the sport grow in popularity and maintain longevity.
The 2004-born midfielder is being monitored by some of the world’s biggest clubs, but Manchester United stand out as the most likely destination. According to reports, Erik Ten Hag has sent scouts to watch the young Benfica midfielder to get more details on his performance and ability to play at the highest level possible.
João Neves being scouted by United
Aged just 19, João Neves has made 22 appearances for Benfica since bursting onto the scenes last season. The Portuguese youngster made his debut for the Benfica B in August 2022 in the team’s 1-1 draw to Academico de Viseu. However, the 19-year-old had been starring for the club’s youth team long before his big break. Neves delivered the UEFA Youth League for Benfica’s U19 side for the first time in their history as they topped a group with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The youngster’s big break came when Chelsea lodged a tempting offer for Enzo Fernandes in January 2023, breaking the British transfer record before the club broke it again to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton Hove & Albion some months ago. He made an instant impact in the first team when he made his Champions League debut against Clube Brugge and assisted the club’s fifth goal in the 5-1 home win.
His first goal came in May against rivals Sporting CP, and he was part of the Benfica team that won their first league title in four years as they secured a 3-0 win on the season’s final day.
His performances with Benfica have earned him some strong interest from top clubs, most notably Manchester United, who have made the first move by assigning scouts to watch the 19-year-old. However, any deal to bring João Neves to United may be difficult as he only recently signed a new long-term contract that runs until 2028.
The Portuguese star also under Manchester City radar
Despite having recently signed “one of the best players in the world” in Matheus Nunes, as called by Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have also registered an interest in another Portuguese star, but this time, the 19-year-old João Neves. Pep Guardiola is set for a transfer battle with Manchester United for the youngster, but any deal for Neves could be hard for both clubs at the moment.
João Neves recently signed a long-term contract at Benfica with a release clause of £103 million, which is absurdly too high for a player who has only had 22 games of first-team football.
Erik Ten Hag looks to bolster his midfield options for next season, with Scott McTominay – United’s hero in last weekend’s game against Brentford – and Donny Van de Beek likely to be moved on to accommodate new players.Where will João Neves end up?
