Ruben Neves appeared to be saying an emotional farewell to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend as he waved to Wolves fans in tears.
The Portuguese was selected to start in Wolves ’ final home match of the Premier League season - a 1-1 draw against already-relegated Norwich City, with goals coming from Teemu Pukki and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Whilst it was an underwhelming afternoon on the pitch for Bruno Lage’s men - one that sees their hopes for European football ended - the majority of the intrigue came after the final whistle in the Black Country. Whilst the players were conducting their lap of appreciation, Neves was spotted waving to supporters in tears.
Whether that is a clue into his immediate future remains to be seen but Wolves boss Lage did not seem too sure over whether his compatriot would be at the club next season. Speaking after the stalemate with the Canaries, he said: "I really don’t know [if Neves will stay].
“I don’t know what they (the fans) sing, but if you tell me I’ll sing the same thing. I want what’s best for Ruben and the club and if Ruben stays I will be happy."
Should the former FC Porto star decide to leave Wolves, he has plenty of potential suitors interested in acquiring his services. Premier League duo Manchester United and Arsenal have both been linked with a move in the past, with each keen to bolster their midfield options ahead of next season.
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The Red Devils are set to lose Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic at the end of the campaign, with Scott McTominay, Fred and the returning Donny van de Beek representing the only senior midfield options for incoming boss Erik ten Hag.
Meanwhile, Spanish giants Barcelona have also been credited with an interest in Neves and appear to be the closest to securing his signature in the upcoming summer transfer window. According to SPORT, the Catalans are desperate to recruit a midfielder, with super agent Jorge Mendes having already finalised a number of negotiations between the club and the player.
They are yet to agree a fee with Wolves but it is suggested that a swap deal could be on the cards which could potentially lower the Midlands side’s asking price. Neves is also noted to be ‘delighted’ at the prospect of playing for Barcelona.
Should he complete a switch to the Camp Nou, then he will be aiming to replicate the form that he has long displayed for Wolves. Since arriving at the club in 2017, he has played a key role in getting the club promoted to the Premier League, whilst also being pivotal to their run to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2020.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed another highly-impressive campaign at Molineux this term with four goals to his name. His current contract is set to run until the summer of 2024.
