David Neres sends message that drives Benfica fans wild | OneFootball

The return of David Neres to Estádio da Luz was one of the most anticipated moments of the European night. Now a Napoli player, who started in his team’s defeat against Sport Lisboa e Benfica, experienced a wave of strong emotions as he once again set foot on the pitch where he was crowned national champion. After the final whistle, the winger opened up and spoke words that quickly went viral among the Benfica supporters.

The most impactful statement came when the playmaker addressed the feeling of facing his former team: “It’s very special for me to be here, in this stadium where I was happy, where I was welcomed with so much affection. It’s a bit strange to be on the other side now. I can only thank Benfica and all the fans. Even though I’m doing very well at Napoli, I would have liked to have been on this side too, on Benfica’s side.”

Regarding the match itself, the Brazilian international acknowledged the opponent’s superiority and the difficulty of the task: “We knew it was going to be a very tough game. We knew how strong Benfica is here at Luz, especially me. We came here looking for the win. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get it. Now we move forward, we already have another game on Sunday.”

Asked whether the Italians had come in overconfident, Neres was adamant in denying any underestimation: “No, we never underestimate anyone. We always step onto the pitch to give our best. We knew how strong Benfica is, it’s a very strong team. They proved that today and came away with the win.”

This season, playing for Napoli, David Neres—valued at 24 million euros—has played 19 matches in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing four assists. His legacy at Sport Lisboa e Benfica remains untouched. In 83 official matches wearing the Sacred Mantle, the left-footer scored 17 goals, made 25 assists, and won a National Championship, leaving fans longing for the magic he displayed on Portuguese pitches.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.