Ruben Neves: Portuguese star urged to stay loyal to Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ruben Neves is known to have caught the attention of Manchester United as the Red Devils look to rebuild their disjointed squad – but a former United favourite says the Wolves star should go nowhere.

Interim United boss Ralf Rangnick is a firm supporter of playing two holding midfielders and moving forwards there is little doubt the north west side need to add some defensive steel to a side which is flattering to deceive despite an array of attacking talent at its disposal.

Sources in Manchester have indicated United could make a big money move for Neves – who ran the show in Wolves’ recent 1-0 victory at Old Trafford – but, in what is glowing praise for the men from Molineux, former United and England right-back Paul Parker says Neves is too good to move to Manchester.

Parker told indiabetting: “If I’m Ruben Neves and after Ruben Neves destroyed Manchester United with his compatriot and team-mate Joao Moutinho, I wouldn’t want to leave Wolves and play with the players in this Manchester United midfield.

“Maybe you’ll say ‘I’ll play with Bruno Fernandes, because we know each other, we’ve played together’.

“(But) The likes of Fred and Scott McTominay, everyone talks about them working hard. They do because they have to, because they’re always chasing all the time.

“Does he (Neves) want to do that? That’s not his game. His game is with the ball at his feet and seeing movement early.

“So, I would say yes to Ruben Neves coming to Manchester United but, for someone of his ability and sanity, I think common sense will prevail at the moment and he stays where he is.”

Many Wolves fans feel their side can maintain their excellent form in the second half of the season and continue their push for European qualification via league and FA Cup, but such praise from outside the region is much more unusual.

Parker, though, is hugely impressed by what he has seen from Wolves and Neves in particular under the management of Bruno Lage.

He added: “He’s (Neves) mostly saying to himself, ‘hold on a minute, I can get into Europe, maybe I’ll get into Europe with Wolves. We might be able to do that. Do I want to run away from that and have to really fight to prove myself at this moment in time with a bunch of players who I don’t think are good enough?’

“He’s got every right to think that way because he was strolling around them two weeks ago.”

Eighth-placed Wolves – a point and position below Manchester United – resume their Premier League campaign at Brentford on Saturday.

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