Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) midfielder João Neves has shared his thoughts on his unexpected transfer from Benfica during the recent transfer window, stressing that he had not anticipated leaving the club at the time.
“At that time I didn’t expect to leave the club, but I was aware of Benfica’s needs and I knew leaving could be an option. Given PSG’s offering and the way they talk about the club—their philosophy and their essence—I see a lot of myself in PSG. It is a club that aims to invest in young talent and promote attractive football. The important thing is how we win and how we play with the ball. I believe the ideology of this club is perfect for me,” he said in an interview.
The 20-year-old Portuguese international player also clarified that financial considerations do not motivate his decisions. “I’m so young I have no idea what money means or how important it is. I see it as an advantage. Sometimes my friends tell me I’m worth 60 million, and I wonder how that’s possible. It’s a little hard to digest, but I’m not worried about it. As I said before, if I give my best, my value can increase or decrease. In football, what is true today may be false tomorrow,” he said.
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Neves also spoke about his debut with the Benfica first team. “It was during the 2022 World Cup, which took place at the end of the year, in November and December, right in the middle of the season. Benfica had many absentees, and the coach needed players to train. I was with the B team, and the coach said to me: ‘Listen, João, tomorrow you train with the first team.’ It was a great session, and the players there helped me a lot. I was very nervous, but I felt their support; so I calmed down, I did my job, and I did it well. My first start was against Estoril at home. I was super nervous, but I always feel that way before a match, no matter the opponent. It’s the worry of ‘Okay, I have to work, I have to do something different, I have to help the team.’
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Finally, João Neves compared Portuguese and French football, emphasizing that he perceives the level in Portugal to be higher. “I think the level here is higher than in Portugal; mid and low ranked teams are more consistent, more competitive, faster and more aggressive. The stadiums here are much better. In Portugal, although the stadiums are OK, the stands are very close, the pitch is often in poor condition and the changing rooms are not very clean. Here in France, all the teams are capable of playing good football, which also gives us the chance to play our best away,” he concluded.
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