Benfica full-back shines at World Cup, Rui Costa unfazed | OneFootball

Absent from Benfica, as he is serving the national team, the young full-back has been a subject of desire. According to reports, José Neto, the left-back for the reds, has had a very positive participation in the U-17 World Cup. However, despite the strong interest in the athlete, the situation does not keep Rui Costa up at night.

As reported by the newspaper A Bola, the young Portuguese international has been one of the main figures of the national team, which is in Qatar. The footballer trained at Benfica has so far scored three goals and provided two assists in the tournament, important numbers considering he is a defender.

Delivering eye-catching performances, it is more than certain that the player will attract significant interest from European clubs. However, Rui Costa is not worried about the situation, since the footballer, a native of Aljustrel in the Alentejo region, is secured by a professional contract, which he signed in 2024.

"I have been at Benfica for many years and I have always loved being here", stated José Neto, only 17 years old, after signing his contract with the reds. The Portuguese footballer has been a regular presence in the U-17 and U-19 teams of the eagles - where he was a starter in the thrashing against Newcastle.

"I am always evolving, both as a person and as a player. I have learned many things: we can't always be at our best, but it's in those moments that we learn to become even better", said the young player. José Neto could very well be the solution José Mourinho is waiting for on the left flank of the red and white defense.

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