The agent of Joao Neves, Jorge Mendes, has revealed there have already been bids this month for Benfica midfielder and Manchester City target Joao Neves, but that he isn’t going anywhere in this window.
It has been suggested in recent months that the Portuguese midfielder could be a target for Pep Guardiola, having really impressed recently.
Joao Neves is seen as one of the brightest young talents emerging in Portugal, and he is thought to have several clubs on his tail.
Bernardo Silva has already given the player his seal of approval, saying recently that he would try to sell City to the player.
But it’s possible there could be one big battle for the player, with Mendes admitting there have already been bids for the talented youngster…
Jorge Mendes says there have been bids for Manchester City target Joao Neves, but he’s not leaving Benfica yet
Mendes has sat down with Portuguese outlet Record to talk about some players from Benfica.
He represents both Neves and the central defender Antonio Silva, who is another top young talent with a lot of interest in him.
Mendes suggests that Neves won’t be leaving Benfica this month, but he does say that there have been some bids and that a summer move could be on the cards.
He said: “Benfica have two players who are highly coveted: Joao Neves and Antonio Silva. Then their president, Rui Costa, will have to decide when he’s ready to consider a deal. It’s always the club’s decision. I can take the proposals and the conditions.
“Yes (there have been bids), there have been situations in which any of them would have had offers if the door had been open.
“The players will stay at Benfica until the end of the season, that’s for sure, and then Rui Costa will decide what’s best to do. And then, as with all the other players: meetings, talks and, when the time is right, the decisions will be made.”
Neves is the real deal
So Neves is already the subject of approaches from other clubs and that is understandable.
Neves – who supposedly has a £105 million release clause in his contract – is still only 19 and yet he is a regular for Benfica and performing with a maturity beyond his years.
According to a recent assessment from WhoScored, the youngster has no significant weaknesses in his game, excelling at passing, aerial duels, tackling, blocking and intercepting.
Quite possibly, he could become one amazing apprentice alongside the master Rodri in City’s midfield.
We will see if Txiki Begiristain and Pep Guardiola come calling in the summer, but one would imagine they will not have a straight run at the teenager if they do.
