Benfica say Joao Neves’ move to PSG ‘virtually complete’

The transfer of footballer João Neves to French club Paris Saint-Germain is “practically completed” but the contract has yet to be signed, according to a statement from Benfica sent to the Securities Market Commission (CMVM) on Monday.

“Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD” (“Society”) reports that the official registration of the process of transfer of the player João Neves to PSG is almost completed, however, to date, the relevant contract has not been signed by all contractors. parties,” the document sent to the regulatory body says.

The Reds add that they will update information on the young 19-year-old Portuguese player “as soon as necessary”.

On Friday, Benfica president Rui Costa admitted that João Neves’ transfer to PSG was “practically a done deal”, with only bureaucratic details missing, and said he understood his teammates’ bitterness.

“If João’s departure happens, which is almost done, but there are still bureaucratic issues to be resolved, I understand the criticism, because their bitterness is the same as mine. No partner would like João’s departure. I, as a partner and president, like it even less,” Rui Costa said at the time.

The Benfica president considered the 70 million euros “impossible to refuse” for the club, and remembers that “whoever pays that amount also understands how much the athlete is being paid”, which makes it “very difficult to refuse those funds”.

Moreover, the Reds’ president believes that João Neves will explain this at the right time: “It is sad to see the best players leave, but we have been having this discussion for 30 years. Everyone admits that Portugal is a country of sales.” But when a sale is made, it harms everyone. There is no transfer without the will of both parties.”