3
Casemiro’s first season as a Manchester United player made supporters start dreaming again and there was genuine hope that his second campaign could be something special.
Then manager Erik ten Hag decided to implement a flawed high-transition style and the Brazilian looked like a fish out of water, causing those dreams to fizzle out quickly.
Injuries also did not help, but it is clear that age has caught up with him, and after the FA Cup final showdown with the Dutchman, the former Real Madrid superstar seems to be on his way to Saudi Arabian clubs who are eager for his signature.
INEOS would be more than happy to get rid of his humongous wages, but will need to find the perfect partner for academy sensation Kobbie Mainoo.
Neves race
Benfica’s prodigious talent Joao Neves has been touted as a top target with The Peoples Person even recently reporting that the club had submitted their first bid of €60 million, which the Portuguese giants promptly rejected.
They value their talisman at a minimum of €100 million while he has a release clause of €120 million in his contract, making it unlikely for many teams to trigger it.
There are reports of a second bid from Manchester United, but Benfica appears adamant that they will not sell for anything less than eight figures.
The midfield maestro is attracting interest from all over Europe, with Paris Saint-Germain being the latest team to join the pursuit.
PSG now enter the fray
PSG coach Luis Enrique is a big admirer and has requested his club to try and secure a deal for the 19-year-old prodigy.
The Ligue 1 giants have been in communication with Benfica regarding a summer transfer, but it appears complicated as they are unwilling to meet Benfica’s asking price.
“João Neves: priority for Luis Enrique in the middle but very complicated file for PSG,” RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins shared on X (formerly Twitter).
“The two parties have recently exchanged. The major issue remains the price asked by Benfica: over €100M,” he added.
This saga is ongoing, and with Benfica facing financial pressures, something may need to give in this transfer window.
Want to be the first to hear breaking Man United news? For carefully selected, crucial updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/United-Breaking-News.
