Football in Europe is dominated by the top five leagues where the best of talent ply their trade. These leagues are responsible for the biggest transfers, the best teams, facilities and dominate the UEFA Champions League. A level down from these are the Eredivisie and Primeira Liga, which are feeder leagues that sign top talented players when they are young, developing them before selling them off for big money.
It is a trend that has gone on for decades, and the latest player who has been subject to interest from top clubs is Benfica’s Joao Neves. The 19-year-old is the product of the club’s successful youth system that has churned out many stars in previous years.
Neves, for years, had been earmarked for greatness after performing brilliantly for the youth teams. And after the club sold Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea for a British transfer record, Neves was accommodated into the first-team setup.
He performed admirably in the latter half of the season and has been one of their best-performing players. Benfica are currently top of the table (on goal difference) and the teenager has been one of the key reasons why.
So, who is Joao Neves, and how good is he?
Joao Neves profile
Born in the coastal municipality of Tavira, Neves, like millions of children, was attracted to football from a young age. Thus, he was enrolled in the local club Casa Benfica Tavira, where his father worked as a coach. The club was a perfect platform for Neves as it was one of the many feeder clubs to SL Benfica.
After spending four seasons at the club, the youngster got his dream move when Benfica accepted him into the academy. It was bold as he was only 12 and had to move more than 300 kilometres away.
Neves joined SL Benfica in 2016 and quickly rose through the ranks. His brilliant performance also caught the eyes of the national setup as he earned a call-up to the under-15 squad. However, his first significant contribution to the club would come in the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League.
The midfielder played six games in the competition as Benfica defeated Red Bull Leipzig 6-0 in the final. This was the club’s first continental title since 1962, significantly increasing Neves’ prospects at the club.
His real breakthrough came when he was picked to be the successor of Enzo Fernandez, who was sold to Chelsea in the 2023 winter transfer window. Neves scored one goal in 17 appearances. He averaged a passion accuracy of 87 per cent and won more than half of his aerial and ground…
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