Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign SL Benfica midfielder João Neves. If they succeed, they’ll have outmaneuvered Manchester United to secure the young talent this summer.
According to a report from Record, Neves favors a move to PSG over Manchester United. Nonetheless, the question remains: What could have influenced the teenager to choose the Parisians over the Red Devils since Leny Yoro made the opposite decision?
On the latest episode of PSG Talking, CBS Sports reporter Jonathan Johnson shared his thoughts on why the capital club was able to beat the Premier League side for Neves reportedly.
“Look at the position that he plays in, the nationality that he is, very probably a future senior regular in the Portugal national team midfield,” Johnson said. “He’ll probably be looking at the likes of Vitinha. Vitinha went to the Premier League, didn’t really get a look in, came to PSG, you know, got two years of regular starts under his belt with a big club like PSG, and now is a fixture in that Portuguese starting 11, and is playing arguably some of the best football of his career. Look at the style of play that Luis Enrique likes to play. You look at sort of the lack of identity that United have had up until recently.
“I think to a degree you can maybe understand the point being that there is maybe a change in the air at United and things could be different in the future… I think the PSG one is the one that makes the most sense to him at this moment in time. And it’s certainly the one where I think he sees the best possibility for himself to be established over the long term. You look at PSG’s need for potentially one or two more players in that midfield.
“And he could be that player who comes in and is part of the regular 11 alongside the likes of [Warren] Zaïre-Emery, Vitinha, but also Fabián Ruiz [was] one of the best players at [UEFA Euro 2024] as well. So for me, I don’t think that necessarily United would have been a better move for Neves than PSG. I’m not saying PSG will end up working out for him, but I think there is a logic to it. “
A BOLA reports that Neves is set to sign a five-year deal with PSG, earning €5 million annually. The teenager is eager to join PSG and is waiting for both clubs to finalize the agreement, which is expected to happen by Thursday or Friday. The transfer fee is reportedly around €70 million, and negotiations are in the final stages.
