Ruben Neves: Better than Pogba? Why Chelsea, Liverpool chasing Porto's superkid
Ruben Neves. Better than Paul Pogba? And at half the price?
That's the buzz doing the rounds, not only in the Premier League, but also across Europe.
Pep Lijnders, kept on at Liverpool after the sacking of Brendan Rodgers, has recommended the Porto youngster to Jurgen Klopp. The Dutchman worked with Neves while on the Porto academy staff.
Jose Mourinho and Chelsea, meanwhile, are also discussing a move at their Cobham base. After long indulging his agent, Jorge Mendes, talking about Neves' potential, Mourinho saw it all up close as Porto shocked his Blues team in the Champions League.
At 18 , if there's a better quarterback in the game, he's yet to show himself.
But a future in the Premier League is no guarantee, despite Mendes' connections. The Portuguese super agent took charge of Neves' affairs in March. And the Chelsea link is obvious. However, PSG, Real Madrid and Valencia, have also had the midfielder watched this season - and all have strong ties to Mendes. Throw in Barcelona and Bayern Munich and you catch the drift. This kid is the real thing.
But none of it will go to Neves' head, insists his former Porto B coach, Luis Castro.
"When he first signed professional with us, I knew we were looking at something special," says Castro. "He was still with the U19s when he did preseason with us, but immediately I knew he had to skip that level and join us.
"He's a player who sees the game with an extraordinary calmness, he knows what any moment in a game asks of him."
That 'feel' for the game is why Porto coach Julen Lopetegui had no hesitation introducing Neves to his first team last season. The former Spain U21 coach knows all about bringing out talent in young players and his management of Neves deserves great credit for what we're seeing from the teen today.
Last season, Lopetegui essentially used Neves as cover for Casemiro. The youngster would make over 20 appearances from the bench, the majority replacing his Brazilian teammate. This season, with Casemiro re-signed by Real Madrid, the decision was obvious. Rather than return to the market for a replacement, Lopetegui turned to Neves. And he's been making headlines across Europe ever since.
Not that he's getting carried away, as Castro explains: "To speak of his maturity, no longer is needed. When a player fulfills his potential at the development stage, it is because he has such maturity. I personally never refer to it as an excuse or explanation.
"For Ruben, we talk not only about technical and tactical talent, but also he has extraordinary mental talents."
A family member also told Maisefutbol: "He was always ahead of his age group, but the family never imagined this would happen so early on. Ruben has fought hard and the debut led many to tears.
"It is a reward for what he has done over the years, he's done a lot to get where he is. The family, without being poor, is humble but always supported Ruben."
For Neves, the teen isn't one to bask in his sudden fame.
"Every player has this dream, I had the opportunity and grabbed it in the best way. After coming through the ranks, I am a player like everyone else and with goals like everyone else," he says.
"I have said several times that from the moment I play with older players, age does not matter, I just try to do the same as them, and have been working so that things continue to go well. Any player who plays with older players, it is normal that after a while, you look more mature."
But such modesty doesn't do Neves' game justice. Castro talks about "mental strength", but you can also label it 'bottle' - which Neves has in abundance.
Played as a genuine quarterback by Lopetegui, Neves has been encouraged by the Spaniard to the make the most of his passing range. It's difficult to recall in recent times another player, at Neves' age, showing the same courage in his passing.
The teen will get his foot in. He'll win tackles - and get the odd goal. Neves can keep it short and simple. But what sets him apart is his long passing. The ability to have defences immediately backpedaling with a range of passing that others don't risk until they're seven, eight years Neves' senior and established pros.
"The more I play, the more confident I become," he shrugs. "You gain more experience and the maturity follows.
"It was always my dream to play as a No6 at the top level. But it's the coach who must decide if I get to play. All I can do is keep my head down and work hard."
For all of Pogba's strengths, he's never displayed the sort of passing game Neves boasts. Juventus turned down €80 million from Barcelona last summer for the Frenchman. At Porto, there's claims president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa wouldn't turn his nose up at €40 million. And Pogba is four years older.
"Porto FC are a big club," says Neves. "It's a dream come true to be playing here. I don't need to talk about foreign teams."
But no matter Neves' quiet protests, the "foreign" question will soon be put in front of him - perhaps as early as January.
More:
Ruben Neves: What Porto heroes say about the superkid
