Sir Jim nodded, Manchester United will have a midfield pairing for the decade.

Kobbie Mainoo has had an unexpected breakthrough this season. From a standout player in the academy team, he has become an irreplaceable part of Erik ten Hag's lineup.The 18-year-old newcomer made his official debut for Manchester United against Everton and stunned everyone with his composure, technical ability, and vision beyond his years. Four months after Mainoo returned from injury and became a sensation, he has repeatedly carried the team on his shoulders. The English star appears to be a leader, regardless of his age.
However, Mainoo's partner, Casemiro, is struggling to keep up at the age of 32. Manchester United needs a long-term replacement this summer to strengthen the squad. Joao Neves of Benfica has been mentioned as a potential candidate.
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On Thursday night, Neves made a strong impression in the UK with the Portuguese representatives. The 19-year-old's midfield dominance played a significant role in Benfica's victory over Rangers at Ibrox, a challenging venue.
Neves deserves to be voted the Man of the Match with a score of 8.6 from FotMob. He completed 3 dribbles and successfully executed 82% of his passes out of 79 touches. Neves' standout performance was in defense, winning 4 tackles, making 2 interceptions, 2 clearances, and recovering the ball 10 times. Particularly noteworthy was Neves winning 14 duels.Portuguese midfielder Joao Neves has been praised by former Benfica coach Luis Castro as "complete" and "very intelligent." At just 19 years old, Neves has impressed with his technique, ball control, passing ability, and composure on the ball. His strength in defense will help Mainoo play more freely to showcase his strengths.
The idea of combining Neves with Mainoo in midfield is indeed intriguing. At this point, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his associates have every reason to pursue the Benfica star. According to reports, not only are Manchester United fans excited about the potential midfield duo shaping the team's midfield for the decade, but Sir Jim and Ineos Group also prioritize Neves' acquisition. The Mirror confirms that Sir Jim is willing to spend over £100 million to bring this talented player to Old Trafford, breaking the club's current transfer record.
Neves' release clause with Benfica is quite high, but Manchester United has an advantage as the midfielder is willing to move on to seek new challenges. A call from compatriot Bruno Fernandes would undoubtedly be appealing to Neves. When asked about the young Portuguese talent, the Red Devils' captain expressed his desire: "I would love to see him at Manchester United, Joao has top qualities! But it all depends on his choice. He will have a great future, at Manchester United or anywhere else."