Not long ago, O Jogo said that Barcelona is one of three teams competing for Benfica player Joao Neves. It has been said that Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Manchester City could be in the running to sign the young Portuguese player, along with the Catalan club.

Neves’s great play in Portuguese football this season

This 19-year-old player has been with Benfica since he was a kid and has already become an important part of their first team. So far, Neves has played 39 senior games for the Portuguese team, scoring twice and setting up two others across all categories.

The teenager’s 2.4 tackles, 0.7 saves, 0.9 clearances, 0.7 shots, 0.6 key passes, and 1.4 dribbles per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal show that he is a good player on both ends of the field. After making 90.6% of his plays in top-level football (stats from Whoscored), he was even good at passing the ball from midfield.

The Portuguese club has given him a deal that will end in the summer of 2028. That’s why Barcelona won’t be able to easily get a deal done for him for a low price this winter.

Barcelona wants to sign Neves. Is he a good player for the future?

Neves is good at tackling the ball and can pick off passes when it’s important for his team. He doesn’t mind getting rid of danger when it’s necessary, and he can shoot the ball far away with poison. The talented Portuguese player can see what other players need to do and make good plays for them. He is also good at dribbling the ball. He mostly plays as a defensive midfielder, but if needed, he can also play as a box-to-box player or as a number ten.

In the long run, Neves would be a great player for Barcelona to sign. Over the next ten years, Xavi would be the best person to guide his growth and bring out the best in him at the Nou Camp.

There’s no question that Neves is a player to keep an eye on at age 19. So, Barcelona should try to get him first when the transfer window opens again at the beginning of next year.