Paul Parker on why Wolves’ Ruben Neves will say ‘no’ to Manchester United this season

The former Red Devils defender is convinced Neves would not want to move to Old Trafford anytime soon.
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Manchester United have a busy month ahead if they want to bring the right player in to push for a top four finish come the end of the season.

The Red Devils sit seventh in the Premier League table and the opinion of many fans, pundits and news outlets, believe the club need to strengthen their squad during the January transfer window if they want to achieve a Champions League place.

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United have been linked with numerous players during the winter window, including Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Ruben Neves.

Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers Credit: GettyRuben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers Credit: Getty
Ruben Neves of Wolverhampton Wanderers Credit: Getty

However, former Red Devils defender Paul Parker thinks Neves shouldn’t leave the Midlands club for United currently.

Speaking to Indiabetting, Parker expressed how the Portuguese international’s style of play doesn’t suit that of United’s.

"If I’m Ruben Neves, and after Ruben Neves destroyed Manchester United with his compatriot and teammate Moutinho, I wouldn’t want to leave Wolves and play with the players in this Manchester United midfield,” he said.

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"Maybe you’ll say I play with [Bruno] Fernandes, because they know each other, they’ve played together.

"The likes of Fred and [Scott] McTominay, everyone talks about them working hard. They do because they have to, because they’re always chasing all the time. That’s the way it is.

"Does he [Ruben Neves] want to do that? That’s not his game, his game is with the ball in his feet and seeing movement early.

"So I would say yes to Ruben Neves coming to Manchester United, but for someone of his ability and his sanity, I think common sense will prevail at the moment and he stays where he is.

Bruno Lage must decide whether or not to play Ruben Neves when his Wolves side face Sheffield United in the FA Cup this weekend: Michael Regan/Getty ImagesBruno Lage must decide whether or not to play Ruben Neves when his Wolves side face Sheffield United in the FA Cup this weekend: Michael Regan/Getty Images
Bruno Lage must decide whether or not to play Ruben Neves when his Wolves side face Sheffield United in the FA Cup this weekend: Michael Regan/Getty Images
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"I think Neves would be a great player for Manchester United, but not in a team they got at this moment in time."

The Red Devils sit seventh in the Premier League table, one place above Wolves, but that didn’t stop Parker thinking Neves has a better chance of qualifying for a European club competition with his current side due to the current misfortunes United face.

He added: "Wolves’ form at the moment is very good. Struggling to score goals, but they don’t give goals away. They’re better than Manchester United defensively.

"So he’s [Ruben Neves] mostly saying to himself, ‘hold a minute, I can get into Europe, maybe I’ll get into Europe with Wolves. We might be able to do that. Do I want to run away from that? And having to really fight, and having to prove myself at this moment in time with a bunch of players who I don’t think are good enough?’

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"He’s got every right to think that way, because he was walking around them a-week-and-a-half ago, he was strolling around them a week, a-week-and-a-half ago."

Since the appointment of interim manager Ralf Rangnick, results under the German have been up and down, winning four of his eight games in charge.

If United want to achieve their ambitions this campaign, they’ll need to bolster their ranks this month - whether Neves is one of them, we’ll have to wait and see.