Dave Edwards leaps to Ruben Neves’ defence over £47m Saudi transfer
Former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards says Ruben Neves cannot be blamed for making a move to Al Hilal.
The Molineux captain is expected to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League club later this week.
He’s apparently already done his medical, and is due to fly to the Middle East in the coming days.
Wolves have agreed a £47 million deal with Al Hilal for the player’s transfer.
That is an excellent deal considering he’s only got one year left on his contract.
It is something that will alleviate pressure, as Wolves seek to balance the books this summer.
Inevitably, Neves has come in for a lot of criticism for making this move. But Edwards believes the 26-year-old is merely thinking of his family.
Dave Edwards says family security is the motivation for Ruben Neves joining Al Hilal
Neves has apparently been offered around ten times the wage he is on at Wolves by Al Hilal.
Many have suggested that he has ‘sold his soul’. But Edwards reckons the prospect of securing his family for generations was a factor in his decision.
He said (Express & Star): “The money he will earn could secure several generations of Ruben’s family. He’s a very clever man, astute, intelligent and a family man – so any decision he makes will not purely be about money, but maybe what the money can do.
“For Wolves, it is a terrific deal getting £47 million for a player in the last year of his contract. It’s excellent business.
“He’s not going to a Premier League rival either, so Wolves will be really happy.”
Only time will tell if Saudi move is good for Ruben Neves
It is very easy to sit back and say that Neves is wasting part of his career by making this move to Al Hilal now.
The Saudi Pro League does not have anything going for it right now, as it seeks to get off the ground by signing players from Europe.
It will take years and years for it to become anything like a top European league.
But one thing it obviously does boast is eye-watering spending power.
It must be extremely difficult to turn down ten times what you are currently earning. Especially when Neves was already a well paid Premier League footballer at Wolves.
Only time will tell if this move will be damaging for Neves’ career.
It’s possible he may only stay out there for a couple of years before returning to Europe. But then, if he does come back to Europe, who knows if that standard of football he has been playing in Saudi will have a negative effect on him.
There is also the possibility that being ‘out of the picture’ could harm his potential to be a regular for Portugal, despite Roberto Martinez calling this ‘an incredible opportunity’ for Neves.