Introducing Joao Neves’ Family- Parents, Girlfriend & More On the 19 YO Playing For Portugal In Euro 2024

In just a few hours, Portugal will take to the field to face off against Czechia in the group stages. Besides having Cristiano Ronaldo, Rui Patrício, José Sá, and Diogo Costa, some young players on the field attract eyeballs. Joao Neves, the 19-year-old central midfielder, joined the team in their match against Czechia. However, as he is a unique player on the field, not much is known about him, and that’s where we come in.

As Portugal heads into their first match of the group stages, the player who started his career at SJ Benfica in 2022 is definitely a name to get familiar with. The young national player made his way up to the national team by competing with Casa Benfica Tavira during his childhood, moving to Benfica Algarve in his teen years. Unlike Cristiano Ronaldo, born on the Funchal island, Neves comes from the mainland in Tavira. So let’s diver deeper to know more about the player.

What do we know about Joao Neves’s family?

Born on September 27, 2004, the footballer has had a challenging opening season as he lost his mother this year. The Benfica star lost his mother, who was suffering a long battle against cancer.  Sara Gonçalves passed away at the age of 50 after undergoing treatment for a few months.

Things took a turn when Neves played the match between Benfica and Toulouse, where they tied. After the contest, the crowd showed their support by cheering for the Portuguese player. He was met with fellow teammates who consoled him making it an extremely emotional time for the player. Goncalves was a Physical Education teacher in Tavira and many were heartbroken to hear the news of her passing.

So far, there are no reports on Neves’s father or the influence he has had in his life. Similarly, as of now, all we know is that Joao Neves is the only child in the family, and there is much more to learn about the young Portuguese footballer. As for his relationship status, there are no reports of him being in a current relationship and this could change once he becomes a star player.

With little learned about his family, there is one thing we can analyze his stats!

Everything you need to know about Neves

Neves has been making a name for himself in the Primeira Liga as many international clubs look to poach him from Portugal. This includes Manchester United, Manchester City Liverpool, and PSG trying to bag the young talent. Although he has not yet settled on a team, he will probably start for the national team in the Euros 2004.

This is a great platform as he can showcase to the world that despite being just 19 he can play along with the Golden Shoe veteran, CR7. But before that, it was mainly Benfica where he played for most of his career. Joao Neves signed with the team in Jan 2022 and has made 17 league appearances. Last season, he appeared in three UEFA Champions League matches where the team needed him on the field.

In 2023, he secured a first-team spot replacing Enzo Fernandez after which he appeared in all 25 league matches and 10 European games this season. Being a midfielder, he has a lot of responsibility for dictating the tempo of the game, slowly becoming a crucial player for the side.

The “top quality” player is said to have a “great future” as Bruno Fernandes reviewed the 19-year-old player. However, when asked about contract talks, Fernandes stated, “Under no circumstances has Benfica started talks with Manchester United or any other club about João — nor does it intend to do so.”

With no plans to let the player go, other clubs will have to cook up an offer worth sacrificing such talent from their team. So, how much would it cost to have Neves on their team?

The price Manchester United will have to pay for Joao Neves

As of now, no one from Benfica wants to see Joao Neves leave the team for an English league. Over the years, many successful transfers from Portugal created Premier League legends like Cristiano Ronaldo. In the recent past, however, Fernandez cost Chelsea a record-breaking $135m to bring in on board.

Considering this calculation, it’s safe to say that for Manchester United to bring in the Portuguese player, they must break the bank. According to Fabrizio Romano, Neves’s contract came with a similar release clause as his own contract.

As of now, Neves is signed to play with Benfica until 2028, and this gives the team leverage to gain a huge transfer fee in case a team wants to bring him in. With that said, do you think Joao Neves has a promising career ahead? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.