There is no longer much doubt. João Neves should indeed join PSG in the coming days or weeks. As the Portuguese press indicated yesterday evening, the midfielder has chosen the club from the French capital, and turned his back on Manchester United. Benfica no longer has any hope of extending their player trained at the club, or even of keeping him for another season. The Aguias management has come to terms with losing him after only one season as a starter (55 matches played TCC, 2 goals, 3 assists).
There is, however, uncertainty surrounding the transfer fee to be paid by PSG. Only one thing is certain, the release clause of €120 million will not be reached. On the other hand, negotiations for the right price are not yet finished. Sources mentioned an offer (refused) of €70 million when others announced a proposal of €90 million plus a player (probably Renato Sanches). There is one certainty here, however. The Parisians do not want to pay more than €70 million, bonuses included.
Benfica wants a “Darwin Nunez” formula
However, this is where Benfica’s management has not yet given up. On the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the Mail from Manhã published a final piece of information on the case. Disappointed with the initial amounts negotiated, in relation to the quality, age and potential of João Neves, the management of the Portuguese club wants to reach the symbolic threshold of €100 million. The media outlet mentions a transfer “à la Darwin Núñez”, sold for €75 million to Liverpool in the summer of 2022, with bonuses of up to an additional €25 million.
This formula works rather well since the Reds have paid €10 million more at the moment, bringing this transfer to €85 million by spreading it out over time. Benfica is thinking about this type of operation with bonuses that are easily achievable for some, less so for others, which would allow them to get closer to €100 million, the sum hoped for in this case. The problem is that PSG is not willing to pay such an amount and only the Renato Sanches alternative allows, for the moment, to lower the bill. It is important to understand one thing, the negotiations are far from over.
