Wait a minute, wasn’t he supposed to cost over £100 million?
That may be the question running through the minds of Manchester United supporters on Saturday morning; a player so heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford earlier in the window closing in on a move that will see him change hands for around £40 million less than the fee the Red Devils were quoted.
The eye-watering £104 million release clause in Joao Neves’ contract soon had Man United shifting their focus to other midfield targets.
Manuel Ugarte and Monaco contract-rebel Youssouf Fofana, to name but too.
So why are Benfica – a club who previously refused to let fellow playmaker Enzo Fernandez leave until his clause was triggered – accepting a cut-price £60 million bid from Paris Saint-Germain at the start of August?
Well, there is the Renato Sanches factor.
Sanches, the one-time wonderkid who’s reputation back in 2016 was even more sparkling than Neves’ is today, is set to secure an emotional return to Benfica as part of the deal that takes the 19-year-old in the other direction.
But even with Sanches going the other way, that does not explain why Benfica are accepting a fee £40 million less than they previously demanded.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Manchester United target Joao Neves set for PSG
President Rui Costa, speaking to A Bola, can understand the ‘criticism’ coming the way of the Portuguese powerhouses.
But he insists that – despite the surprisingly cheap transfer fee – Benfica simply could not turn down the chance to bring in 70 million euros for a teenager who rose through the ranks at the Estadio da Luz.
“If Joao Neves’ departure takes place, which is still pending details, I understand the fans’ criticism because their bitterness is mine,” explains Rui Costa, the former Portugal and AC Milan star.
“I have to form squads and ensure that Benfica can win titles. And when you lose a player of Joao’s quality, who was trained here, I feel even sadder about it. I’ve known him since I was 10 years old and it’s hard to see him leave.
“People have to understand that we postponed this transfer for a long time. We clearly rejected the first offers. But we reached certain moments and numbers that made the transfer inevitable.
“Funds of 70 million euros are not possible for the club to give up.”
Manuel Ugarte freed up to leave Paris Saint-Germain
Man United, at least, could benefit from Neves’ impending switch to the Parc des Princes. This could see a major domino fall in United’s pursuit of Manuel Ugarte.
Neves, who had been labelled an ‘excellent player’ by Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes, will push Ugarte even further down Luis Enrique’s PSG pecking order.
Fabrizio Romano reports on his YouTube channel that – like with Bayern Munich duo Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui – Ugarte appears to have his heart set on United after agreeing personal terms with Erik ten Hag’s side.
There is also still a chance that the FA Cup holders could strike a deal that sees the tough-tackling Uruguayan arrive on loan, albeit with an obligation to buy clause in his contract.
If PSG are willing to rubber stamp such a deal, that would free up funds for United to go all in on De Ligt and Mazraoui in the knowledge that Ugarte’s payment will be deferred until 2025.
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