'I would love Man Utd to sign Joao Neves' admits Bruno Fernandes

Suraj Radia

18 Nov 2023 14:28 CST
3 min read

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has admitted he would ‘love’ to link up with his Portugal teammate Joao Neves at Old Trafford amid speculation linking the Benfica wonderkid with a transfer.

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Neves received his first cap for Portgual last month after enjoying a breakout 2023 with Benfica, having only made his senior debut for his club in January following Enzo Fernandez’s record sale to Chelsea.

The 19-year-old has quickly become an integral part of Robin Schmidt’s side in midfield, featuring in all their league games this season and scoring in the recent 2-1 win over rivals Sporting earlier this month.

OPEN: Everything Joao Neves has said about his future

Neves’ rise to stardom has alerted a host of scouts, none more so than United, who have held a long-term interest in him and Fernandes revealed he would love to have the teenager ‘by his side’ at his club.

"It has to be the Man United coach who says whether he has a place or not,” Fernandes told Sport Tv. “He's a great player, I don't know if he would have a place or not. It depends on the coach and his ideas.

“But he's an excellent player and an excellent kid, very professional, You will have a bright future wherever you go. I would really like to have him by my side. Because he has quality and will have a bright future. It depends on him. What I want most is the best for him."

United ‘convinced’ by Neves despite eyewatering release clause

Neves is set to become Benfica’s latest big money export to a major European side, with the Portuguese giants inserting a release clause worth a reported €120 million in the five-year extension he signed in August.

United have reportedly identified Neves as their top target for their midfield but it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to activate his release clause, which could be a British record transfer fee.

DEEP READ: Why Joao Neves is destined for the top

Erik ten Hag’s side have sent scouts to watch Neves on a number of occasions and are said to be ‘convinced’ by him, although they will likely face competition from a number of sides such as Arsenal and Juventus, who have also been linked.

However, United’s interest will likely depend on their ownership situation, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to confirm his investment in the club in the coming days.