Ruben Neves has revealed how close he came last summer to joining Arsenal before moving to Saudi Arabia.
The Portuguese international was strongly linked with a move to north London last year, with Neves expected to join Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal after months of rumours surrounding the midfielder.
However, the then-Wolves star made the surprise decision to join Al-Hilal in a deal worth £47m, with Neves one of the first players last summer to make the controversial move to Saudi Arabia.
Ruben Neves reveals how close Arsenal transfer actually was last year
And speaking to O Jogo, Neves has how detailed how close a move to Arsenal actually as last summer, with the midfielder also wanted by the likes of FC Barcelona and Liverpool.
Neves said when asked about transfer interest last year: “I was close to three clubs and it didn’t happen, which saddened me and helped me make the decision to go to Al Hilal.
“I didn’t want to put names forward, but Barcelona was one of the hottest and it wasn’t a lie. It was close to happening, just like with Arsenal. Then there was another club outside England.
“It was events that piled up and then, with this golden opportunity [to sign for Al Hilal], I had no hesitation in accepting. I was already calloused with transfers that don’t happen.”
Arsenal made the right decision moving on former Wolves star
Arsenal missing out on Neves coupled with their ongoing pursuit for Declan Rice ultimately meant the England international was the one who joined the north London side in the summer.
Yet based off the 25-year-old midfielder’s form this season, Arsenal stumbled on a masterstroke of a decision in opting to sign Rice over Neves last year.
The former West Ham star has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season and a huge part of Arsenal’s form, and it’s now hard to imagine the Gunners without Rice in their ranks.
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