Rúben Neves spent six years at Wolverhampton Wanderers before leaving for Al-Hilal in June 2023.
The defensive midfielder is a product of FC Porto’s youth system and spent three years with their first team before joining Wolves in 2017.
Neves was a regular in Wolves’ starting lineup during his time with them. He made 253 appearances in all competitions, managing 30 goals and 23 assists in the process.
The 28-year-old has an opportunity to return to Europe in the summer window, two years after leaving Wolves. That’s according to A Bola, who state the Dragons are looking at him for next season.
Porto are dreaming about bringing their academy graduate back to the club. They hope he could be moved by their approach, to leave Saudi Arabia and return to his old club.
His contract expires in 2026, and this is an obstacle for Porto, also considering their own finances. A Bola state the Primeira Liga side have to be cautious with their investments and feel the fee needed to sign Neves could be out of their reach.
A loan move could also be a possibility, albeit a remote one. The option of terminating his contract with Al-Hilal could be more realistic than a temporary move.
In short, it’s complicated for Porto to fulfil their dream of having the ex-Wolves star back at the club. If they were to complete this operation, Neves would have an important role to play on the pitch and in the dressing room.
It would make sense sporting wise for Porto to bring him back. They need to see if the operation can be financially feasible if Al-Hilal refuse to terminate Neves’ contract.
A few other clubs, including from England, could look at Neves if he’s made available in the next window.
