Would Ruben Neves really help Barcelona?

FT Desk

• Updated: 23 Oct 2022 17:12 BST
• 4 min read

Barcelona have been linked with a move for Wolves and Portugal midfielder Ruben Neves. They must be about the last club in the world who need him.

That's not to say Neves is a poor player - far from it. The 32-time capped Portugal midfielder has averaged 10 ball recoveries per game this season and is rightly rated at €43 million by Football Transfers' in-house algorithm.

Barca spent €150m this summer on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde - a striker, winger and centre-back respectively - and coach Xavi is understood to retain an interest in Neves, a central midfielder.

"Who wouldn't want to try Barcelona?" Neves asked when the Balugrana's interest was put to him by Portuguese TV station Canal 11 recently. "I think it's a common question for all players. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course, it's always a privilege for me to be associated with clubs of this calibre."

But Barca would be flushing some much-needed capital down the drain in matching Neves' valuation. Sergio Busquets may be 34, but he is Xavi's most-used midfield anchor this season, and has a style which is relatively age-proof compared to other positions.

Frenkie solution

But even if he were to call it a day at the end of the campaign, Barca have a ready-made replacement on their books in Frenkie de Jong - something Xavi admitted recently. De Jong has gone from being pushed out the door to Manchester United to starring in La Liga of late.

"He played really well because he understood his role and that he was the free man who had to divide the game," Xavi said of De Jong's performance in the 3-0 win over Villarreal on Thursday.

"He enjoyed the match; he understood his responsibility very well. I'm really happy for him, he deserves it. Today… our pivot was free, and we believe that Frenkie is the best for this position. He understood this demand well and also his defensive responsibility. He was very good, especially defensively."

Either side of De Jong on Thursday and Busquets other weeks have been Pedri and Gavi, meanwhile. The former was succeeded by the latter as the Kopa Trophy winner at the recent Ballon d'Or ceremony, and both teenagers have been handed new contracts at Barca with €1 billion release clauses.

That's all quite aside from the fact that Barca now also have Franck Kessie on their books following his free transfer arrival from AC Milan in the summer, and the Ivorian is determined to make up for lost time after arriving with thigh complaints.

Neves is a good player, but Barca have one of the best midfields in world football and dropping €43m on him would be folly.