Portuguese star snubs Amorim, ready to take pay cut to force through dream move to Spain – report

Manchester United’s pursuit of Ruben Neves may have become a little complicated. The Red Devils are looking to add more quality to the middle of the park before the end of the January transfer window. The midfield has been identified as the weak link in Ruben Amorim’s squad, and reinforcements are in order this year. The English giants have traditionally refrained from breaking the bank for top targets in the middle of the season. As such, United are expected to look for cost-effective solutions in the market this month, before making a move for their priority targets at the end of the campaign. Recent reports relayed by The Peoples Person have named Neves as a potential option for the job. Proven in the Premier League The Portuguese midfielder spent six seasons with Wolverhampton Wanderers, five of which were in the Premier League. Neves has made 177 appearances in the top tier of English football during his career, chipping in with 21 goals and nine assists. Ruben Neves: Premier League Career Stats StatisticValue Appearances (Sub)177 (13) Goals21 Assists9 Goals21 Expected Goals (xG)17.4 Expected Assists (xA)9.48 Touches in Opposition Box60 Penalties (Scored)8 (8) Hit Woodwork5 Free Kicks (Scored)45 (45) Crosses (Completed %)121 (19%) Passes (Completed %)9,904 (83%) Long Passes (Completed %)1,720 (60%) Corners Taken37 Minutes Played14,431 Dribbles (Completed %)128 (71%) Duels Won666 Aerial Duels Won130 Total Tackles370 Interceptions285 Blocks65 Red Cards0 Yellow Cards46 Fouls175 Offsides2 Own Goals0 Source: Premier League website. The 28 year old fits United’s recent transfer strategy, which has been heavily centred around Premier League-proven players. Neves is already in his prime and can hit the ground running with a move to the Theatre of Dreams. Meanwhile, the player’s contract with Al-Hilal expires in six months, so he could be available for a reduced fee this month. A Bosman move at the end of the season could also suit the Red Devils’ finances, but it now appears that the player is eyeing a move to Spain this year. Neves dreaming of Real Madrid move According to Fichajes, Neves is willing to do everything possible to secure a move to Real Madrid this year. The Portuguese believes that joining Los Blancos will be the right step in his career, and will enable him to win silverware. The LaLiga giants, on the other hand, are enticed by the player’s profile and his possible availability on a free transfer at the end of this season. Personal terms should not be a problem either, as Neves is reportedly willing to take a pay cut of more than 60% on his exorbitant wages to get the deal across the line. The update could be a huge blow to United’s plans, as they may struggle to convince the Portuguese midfielder to move to Old Trafford this month or at the end of the season. Final Thoughts Amorim is in need of midfield reinforcements, as evidenced by the team’s struggles in December, where they have won just two of their six games. However, it makes little sense to pay a transfer fee for a player who is set to become a free agent at the end of this season. While there’s no denying that Neves would have been a fine addition to United’s squad, missing out on him will not be the end of the world. Meanwhile, the Red Devils could also turn to Conor Gallagher as an alternative option. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.