Former Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ruben Neves could be on the verge of a dramatic transfer to Spanish giants Real Madrid this January, with Manchester United's pursuit of the midfielder seemingly losing momentum.
Spanish Media Reports Neves' Preference
Spanish newspaper AS, citing journalist Anton Meana of Cadena SER, claims that Neves has already "chosen" Real Madrid as his preferred destination for the winter transfer window. This development comes despite continued interest from Manchester United, who have been monitoring the Portuguese international's situation.
The report suggests that Real Madrid's coaching staff believe the team needs to strengthen their midfield options, though the club's board reportedly harbours some reservations about Neves' recent performances. With his current contract at Al Hilal set to expire in June, Real Madrid officials are said to be hesitant about paying a transfer fee this month.
Neves' Emotional Wolves Departure
In a recent interview with Wolves.co.uk, Neves opened up about his emotional departure from Molineux last year, describing it as "the hardest decision of my life." The classy midfielder reflected on a challenging final season at the club where he served as captain during a turbulent period.
"The last season for me here was very hard, mentally," Neves revealed. "I was very tired and I remember I spoke to my wife that season, and I said that mentally it was hard for me to deal with everything that happened."
He detailed the difficulties of navigating managerial changes, working with interim coaches, adapting to new signings, and fighting against relegation while carrying the responsibility of captaincy. Despite these challenges, Neves maintains that Wolves will "always be in my heart" after six "fantastic years" at the club.
Future Possibilities and Open Doors
When questioned about a potential return to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the future, Neves remained cautiously optimistic but realistic about football's unpredictable nature.
"I don't like to speak about that because life changes a lot," he stated. "Of course, this is a special home for me and a special home for my family, so Wolves will always be in our minds and there will always be a chance."
The midfielder added: "I don't want to create expectations because we know how football is. We don't know what will even happen tomorrow, but for sure, it's an open door for me. I believe that if I can choose, Wolves will always be one of the options, for sure, but I don't know what can happen."
Neves currently faces a significant decision between a "very juicy renewal offer" from his current club Al Hilal and his apparent desire to play for "los Blancos" at the Santiago Bernabéu. As the winter transfer window progresses, all eyes remain on where this Wolves favourite will ultimately land.
