European clubs circle Rubén Neves as Al Hilal star hovers near free move

Current status of Neves' European interest

Reports emerged this evening about the reality of European bids for Portuguese midfielder Rubén Neves of Al Hilal, with talks shifting to the near future.

Several outlets have floated theories about his potential departure next summer to a European club, linking him with Manchester City or Manchester United, and noting interest from Newcastle United and Real Madrid.

What we know about the contract and next steps

This comes as Al Hilal works to renew the contract of their Portuguese star before it expires next summer, entering a free‑agency window that would let him negotiate with any club without consulting his current team.

British journalist Ben Jacobs posted on X that, despite European interest in Neves, there are no formal offers yet.

He added that Hilal is pushing hard to renew to avoid a costly free transfer, while Neves’ agent weighs all available options.

Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel that Neves is very close to a decision about his future.

Since arriving at Hilal in 2023 from Wolverhampton, Neves has helped the club win four trophies and played a standout role as they reached the quarterfinals of the 2025 Club World Cup, a performance that has sparked European interest.

Punchline: If all this drama ends with a deal, expect the transfer talk to become the new treadmill—always moving, rarely arriving.

Punchline 2: European clubs are chasing Neves like a clearance sale, but the only thing being cleared is a calendar full of press conferences and contract clauses.