According to reports from The Express this afternoon, Porto president Pinto da Costa has issued a clear hands off warning to potential suitors of midfield prodigy Ruben Neves.
The central midfielder, who team-mate Cristian Tello has compared to Barcelona’s formidable anchor man Sergio Busquets, is only 18 years of age but has already registered 43 senior appearances for the Dragons and became the youngest captain in Champions League history e on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea are reportedly preparing a bid for the Portugal U21, who is also the youngest player to represent his country at that age group, in the hope of signing him next summer – viewing the teenager as a potential alternative to in-demand Juventus star Paul Pogba.
Liverpool, meanwhile, have been tracking his progress since January and had scouts present on Tuesday as Neves captained his side to a 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
But according to The Express, who cite reports from Portuguese publication A Bola, Porto president Pinto da Costa has no plans to sell the 5 foot 11 midfielder.
He said; “Ruben has a contract until 2019 and not until 2017, as sometimes I see in writing, and we would like to keep him at FC Porto, as a kind of João Pinto. That is, he was a symbol and legend of the progress of the club for several generations. I never want him to leave Porto.”
The Dragons president may not have much of a choice in the matter, however. Neves’ contract is known to include a £29million release clause.