£104m Man Utd target urged to sign for specific manager to get the best out of him

Add as preferred source on Google

Benfica will suffer a ‘huge loss’ if Joao Neves joins Manchester United but one former Benfica ace thinks the Portugal international would be better off under Pep Guardiola at Premier League champions Man City.

When two of the planet’s finest midfielders are taking the chance to sing your praises, you know you’re on the right track. And 19-year-old Joao Neves certainly is, Bruno Fernandes swinging open the door for the Benfica teenager to join him at Manchester United and City’s own Bernardo Silva determined to close it again.

United’s scouts have made regular trips to Lisbon in recent months. The Red Devils keeping a very close eye on one of Europe’s finest young playmakers (Fabrizio Romano).

Now, Benfica bounced back after losing their former midfield maestro Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea nearly 12 months ago. But repeating the trick – should Erik ten Hag get his mitts on Neves – may be easier said than done.

Manchester United love Benfica’s Joao Neves

“Having Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes say that they would like to have him as a colleague at their clubs has to be very gratifying for Joao,” Valdo, a two-time Primeira Liga champion with Benfica, tells Radio Renascenca.

“If Benfica lost Joao in the winter market, something I don’t believe (will happen), it would be a huge loss. It’s very difficult to hold on to him, because there is a lot of money in football.

“If it’s not Manchester United, another club of the same size will arrive and pay.”

Former Brazil midfielder Valdo would prefer to see Neves follow in the footsteps of Bernardo Silva rather than Bruno Fernandes, however. Backing Pep Guardiola to do with the teenager what he did with Lionel Messi, Kevin de Bruyne and Robert Lewandowski.

‘Best coach in the world’

“If he leaves Benfica, I hope he goes into the hands of the best world coach… Pep Guardiola,” Valdo adds. “The most important thing at this moment is the choice you will make for your future.

“We have the example of Joao Felix, who, in my opinion, chose his path poorly in sporting terms when he went to Atlético. The choice is very important at this moment.

Neves has a £104 million release clause in his contract. And while Man United will obviously hope that a far lower fee can be agreed, Benfica don’t tend to make a habit of selling their prized assets on reduced terms, as Chelsea discovered when breaking the £100 million barrier on Enzo Fernandez in January.