Ruben’s leading the Portuguese pack
THERE is a Molineux banner proclaiming: “The strength of the wolf is in the pack.” Yet every pack needs a leader. Every revolution, a Portuguese one in this instance, requires a spark. For Wolves, that catalyst has been Ruben Neves.
His £15.8million transfer from Porto in July 2017 was stunning, especially as he was moving to a Championship side.
But no one is questioning the wisdom of the switch now – least of all Neves, the youngest-ever Champions League captain at 18.
He helped his old Porto gaffer Nuno Espirito Santo win the Championship title and has since been joined by countrymen such as Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho.
The visit of Liverpool in the FA Cup tonight will hold no fears for Neves and Wolves, who have already taken points off Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and, most recently, Tottenham.
The intelligent and mature 21-year-old is as far from a foreign footballing mercenary as you can imagine.
And Neves has even added a recent tattoo of a wolf and a set of goalposts to his left arm.
He said: “I did it because of the animal. The wolf is a very competitive animal, intelligent. He works hard to achieve his goals and protects his family.
“I didn’t do it because of the club but of course it is a bit more special because of that.”
That emblem has added to the fans’ devotion and they hail Neves by singing: “He’s Nuno Santo’s man ... he’s better than Zidane.”
But grounded Neves seems the BY JAMES NURSEY last person to get carried away. He had his whole family over to celebrate the end of a “dream” 2018 that saw daughter Magarida celebrate her first birthday and Neves get engaged to sweetheart Debora, who is pregnant with his second child.
“I’ve since made my debut in the Premier League and enjoyed the first half of the season.”
Neves signed an improved five-year contract at Wolves last summer and is loving playing alongside compatriot Moutinho, a player he once idolised.
He said: “It was really special when he signed here. When I was younger I saw Moutinho playing and he was very good. He was a reference for me as a ball boy at Porto so to play with him is unbelievable.”
Giving up Champions League football for the English second tier may have seemed an unusual move but he said: “The Championship allows you to grow as a player.”
If he continues to grow like this then everyone will soon be talking about him.