PSG: Vitinha reveals how he helped sign Neves ahead of Manchester United

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·5 marzo 2026

PSG: Vitinha reveals how he helped sign Neves ahead of Manchester United

Vitinha, a 26-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, was invited during a Canal11 documentary to discuss the battle for João Neves (a 21-year-old midfielder) from Benfica in the summer of 2024. He explains having competed with Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) for the arrival of their very special compatriot.

Vitinha "I really want you to come."

"The PSG / Manchester United duel for Neves? I tried to convince him to come, even though he didn't know me very well. I encouraged him to come because I knew it would be very beneficial for us. From what I saw... I knew PSG was interested, but I told him: 'João, if you can, I know others will push for them, but I really want you to come.' Bruno did it, 100% [laughs]. Unfortunately for him, he didn't succeed, because he came here and played well.

Vitinha "I perceived other aspects, other nuances in his game."

I wasn't a visionary; those who shared the field with him during the first training sessions saw it. I saw him on television, but I thought he was even better. I perceived other aspects, other nuances in his game. You've already seen some things, especially offensively; he has already scored a hat-trick, he has a sense of detail and incredible actions, but he manages to do it regularly, for a long time. It wasn't a stroke of luck. Knowing the person behind it all, I was even more certain that everything could work."

Vitinha as a future sporting director? It might be a bit too early to consider a career change, and he is not the first to participate in a transfer. We regularly see players recount discussions to make a choice, or others who have tried to convince someone to come. This happens notably in national teams or with the various friendships that can be formed in football.

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In any case, the Portuguese midfielder had a very good feeling about his young compatriot and didn't want to see him sign with any club other than PSG. We can only be delighted as Neves' contribution to Paris is clear, even though he, like the whole team, is facing more physical challenges this season. His talent is evident, his determination precious, and the future looks bright. We even hope to see the two Portuguese players continue to shine together at PSG for a long time.

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