José Neto extends until 2031 and hails Benfica pillar: fulfilled my dream | OneFootball

On the night of last Friday, April 24, Benfica finally made José Neto’s contract renewal official. Seen as one of Seixal’s brightest young talents, the 18-year-old left-back had his contract extended until 2031 and, speaking to BTV, highlighted the importance that José Mourinho has had in his development in recent months.

"He is a coach who needs no introduction. I have a lot to thank him for, for what he has done for me and for the trust he has placed in me. He made my dream come true; he is a very special person to me," began the young left-back, moments after signing the new contract, in a short interview with BTV.

"I have grown a lot. This may well be one of the seasons in which I have learned the most, both professionally and personally. It was a season in which I went through difficulties I had not experienced in previous seasons. Everyone helped me. My teammates always helped me as much as possible," José Neto admitted, reflecting on his growth at Luz.

"I had the dream. To imagine it would happen so soon, no. Even if you asked me at the start of this season whether I thought I could be here, honestly, I would have told you probably not. As I started with the under-23s, I thought my season might continue with the under-23s or reach the level of the B team, which I also had the chance to do, but getting to this level is something I did not expect," he added, surprised by the media rise he has experienced.

"It means the Club believes in me, supports me and, for me, that is very rewarding. Since the day I arrived, it has been a club that has given me every condition to perform at my best. I am very grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey, so to speak, from the moment I arrived at the club until now," José Neto concluded, speaking about what it means to extend his deal with the Eagles.

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