Man Utd rumored for affordable £17m acquisition of Ruben Neves, as Ruben Amorim seeks to alleviate midfield dilemma
In the world of football, speculation is rife about the potential return of Ruben Neves to Europe, with Manchester United reportedly interested in acquiring the midfielder.
Neves, who currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, spent six years with Wolverhampton Wanderers before making the move to the Middle East, following in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo who left for Al-Nassr in 2023. During his tenure at Wolves, Neves played 177 times in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals, including a memorable 25-yard curler against Manchester United in August 2019.
Manchester United, who currently sit 14th in the table after their latest loss to Manchester City, could reportedly acquire Neves for a cut-price fee of around £17million. The Red Devils have been linked with the Portuguese international for some time, with the speculation intensifying during his time at Wolves.
However, Neves' move to Old Trafford might not be as straightforward as it seems. Ruben Amorim, the current manager of Manchester United, was Neves' opponent back in late April 2015 when both were playing for Sporting Lisbon and Benfica respectively. Although they did not share minutes on the pitch, Amorim's 3-4-3 system at Manchester United has reportedly caused a midfield crisis, which could potentially affect any potential deal.
Meanwhile, Man City secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over their rivals, with Phil Foden scoring the opening goal after just 18 minutes and Erling Haaland adding a second-half brace. Katherine Walsh, a football pundit, rated each United player's performance in the match, but it's clear that the Red Devils have a lot of work to do if they are to challenge for the title.
As for Neves, there is currently no available source that provides information about where he is training. For now, the future of the midfielder remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure - Neves has remained a regular figure in the Portuguese national team and continues to impress on the international stage, having scored the winning penalty in the Uefa Nations League final against Spain earlier this year.
Only time will tell if Neves will make a return to the Premier League and if he will be lining up for Manchester United in the near future. But for now, the focus remains on the Red Devils as they look to turn their season around and climb up the table.
