Ruben Neves addressed the speculation linking him with a move to St. James’ Park, aiming to put an end to the swirling rumors that had taken the football world by storm.
The Portuguese midfielder’s career had been under the English spotlight on multiple occasions recently. His summer move to Saudi Arabia at the age of 26, amidst Premier League interest, stirred debates about his motivations. Questions arose, questioning if the move was solely motivated by financial gains.
Neves found himself in the spotlight once more shortly after settling in the Gulf, this time due to speculation about a potential loan move to Newcastle. The fact that both his current club, Al-Hilal, and Newcastle were owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund PIF fueled the rumors further. The idea gained significant traction, with many top league teams urging the League to intervene, aiming to prevent player loans between clubs sharing the same owner.
However, in a candid conversation with the BBC, Neves dispelled the speculations regarding his potential move to St James’ Park in January. “I won’t go there. I think these are rumors because of the club’s owner, and because I also played in England. There was interest from Newcastle before, but I’m very happy here. My family is very happy, so I’m having a good time,” Neves clarified.
