Ruben Neves left the Premier League for Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 but the Portuguese international could be ready to return to England in the new year
Ruben Neves playing for Al Hilal at the 2025 Club World Cup
Ruben Neves could leave Al Hilal in January(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United have been tipped to revive their interest in Ruben Neves in January. The Red Devils were linked with the Portugal international before he left Wolves for Al Hilal in 2023, and those connections have now resurfaced.
Neves, 28, captained Wolves to promotion to the Premier League in 2018 and played more than 250 times for the Molineux club in six years. He became one of the Saudi Pro League's big statement signings, though, following compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in moving to the Gulf.
Al Hilal paid a reported £47million for the midfielder, who is believed to be one of the higher earners in Saudi football. His contract is expiring this summer, though, potentially paving the way for a cut-price January exit.
According to The Mail, Al Hilal are prepared to accept around £20m for Neves, who is said to have no plans to extend his contract. That could make him a more realistic prospect than some of the other midfield targets on United's radar.
Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are both high on the Red Devils' list, but neither is unlikely to be available for less than £100m in January. If Ruben Amorim decides new blood is required in the middle of the park, Neves could tick a lot of boxes.
Neves helped Al Hilal win the Saudi Pro League title in his first season, with the Riyadh club going the whole season unbeaten. They only finished second last term, though, replacing manager Jorge Jesus with former Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi at the end of the campaign.
They are unbeaten after nine games of Inzaghi's first season at the helm, though they're four points adrift of league leaders Al Nassr. Neves has scored four goals - two of those in his last two games - as well as one in a King's Cup quarter-final victory over Al Fateh.
Ruben Neves celebrating a goal for Portugal
Neves is set to represent Portugal at the 2026 World Cup
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United's links with Neves come at a time when Bruno Fernandes has once again been linked with a move in the opposite direction. Al Hilal failed with a summer move for the Old Trafford captain, who opened the door to a future move in a November interview which has come to light this month.
"I can’t complain, I’m very well paid, but obviously the difference is huge," former Sporting CP star Fernandes told Canal 11 (via Maisfutebol and translated by Sport Witness).. That was never what guided me. If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I’ll play in Saudi Arabia,”
“My lifestyle will change, my children’s lives will be sunny, after six years in Manchester with cold and rain, I’ll be playing in a growing league, with recognised players."
He said he decided to stay after conversations with manager Amorim but was "hurt" by the club's position on a potential exit. "“I decided to stay, also because of family reasons, but because I genuinely like the club," he added.
"The conversation with the manager also made me stay. But, from the club’s side, I felt a bit like, ‘if you leave, it’s not so bad for us.’ It hurts me a lot."
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