NEVES: WOLVES READY TO SOAR ‘I love the club, fans and the impressive project’

RUBEN NEVES has always been a man in a hurry.

But the Wolves midfielder says he feels right at home at Molineux, despite constant speculation last season he was a £ 50million target for both Manchester clubs and Liverpool.

Neves, 22, made his Porto debut at 17. Five days later he overtook Cristiano Ronaldo as the youngest Portuguese to play in the Champions League. And a year later, he found himself the tournament’s youngest captain.

So when one of the rising stars of world football turned up in the Championship wearing the old gold and black shirt in the summer of 2017, there were a few raised eyebrows.

Not any more. Nuno

Espirito Santo (right)

– the manager Neves worked under at Porto

– has built a team that took Wolves to seventh place in the Premier

League last season and into the Europa League.

Neves has no doubts the club’s journey on an upward curve has only just started.

“When I came here and Joao Moutinho came here, we were always asked why,” he said.

“Our goal was to help the club get into the Premier League – and now I think it is clear that we made the right decision.

“I am proud to have played a part in the history of Wolves. We had a great season in the Championship – one of the most competitive leagues in the world – and then we finished seventh in the Premier League. Now we want to keep improving and bring more success.

“I was shown the project before I signed for Wolves and saw that the club is really ambitious to be right at the top.

“That was the main thing I wanted to hear. I needed to see that they wanted the same things as me.

“So it was an easy decision to make because I wanted to grow as a player.” Neves was named Championship player of the year in 2018 as Wolves went up as champions.

And despite signing a new long-term contract last summer, his excellent form in the Premier League led to constant links with top-four clubs.

Neves said: “Look, I feel at home in Wolverhampton. It is unbelievable the way that the fans receive all the players at the club.

“I am not saying this because I play for Wolves, but in my opinion the atmosphere in our stadium is very special.

“There is only one club in the Premier League who can get close to our fans in the way they support the team – and that is Liverpool.

“Our fans are the best and they make our stadium the most difficult place for other teams.

“So I am not thinking about other clubs. I just focus on my job to help Wolves become a better team and to achieve great things.

“I have people who advise me on things like that, so I can just play my football. That’s what I love to do.”

Wolves open their Europa League campaign against Irish minnows Crusaders at Molineux on Thursday.

And Neves is looking to hit the ground running after outlining Nuno’s intention to attack every tournament.

The Wolves No.8 took time out from the squad’s pre- season preparations to meet and greet fans in Shanghai this week – and it was clear that the club’s Chinese ownership has caught the imagination of the locals.

The event was also attended by Avery Dennison, the company that will supply Premier League clubs with names, numbers and sleeve badges for the next three years.

Neves said: “I think we can definitely take the next step and win a trophy. It will not be easy, but if we have the mentality that we can win every game we go into, then why not?”

HE’S UP FOR A CUP The next ambition for Ruben Neves is to bring silverware to Molineux PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has accused the Football League of burying its head in the sand while three of its clubs – Bolton Wanderers, Bury and Macclesfield – struggle to survive. The Professional Footballers’ Association has a track record of sanctioning loans and coming to the rescue of penniless players who have fallen into debt following the non-payment of wages. The financial situation at League One Bolton and Bury worsens, while Macclesfield of League Two have struggled to stay afloat. Notts County were also gripped by cash and wages worries as they slipped into non-League in May. Taylor said: “The game has never had more money and yet I can’t recall when we’ve had four clubs where players have been owed money for such a length of time. “I don’t think the football authorities are doing enough. “Situations are being allowed to drag on for far too long. “At Bolton the administrators have been in since May. “Maybe it’s time for FIFA to get involved.” Taylor added: “I’m afraid people who push themselves forward as new owners often don’t have any football knowledge and aren’t backed up by the promised funds.” Bolton, who like Bury are in administration, last month admitted to having just six senior players left at the club. Their friendly at non-League Chester FC last Friday night was cancelled, after players once again took industrial action. Taylor said: “Unless the EFL grasps the nettle more clubs will be in serious trouble. Some won’t survive.”