Roger Schmidt, his coach at Benfica, was asked by L’Equipe to comment on the beauty of João Neves’s game. According to him, there are two explanations for the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal midfielder.
“Neves was playing on the beach.”
“It’s funny because that’s the question I asked him: how come your first touch is so good? And your ball control? Where does this incredible technique come from? He told me it’s because as a kid, he played on the beach, on the sand, with the ball always moving, you couldn’t let it bounce, and that’s also where his upper body technique comes from. That’s the secret.
“Neves loves playing football.”
I think the other explanation is that he loves playing football. Nothing else matters to him. At the beginning, when I brought him up to the first team, I tried him in different positions, midfielder, full-back… No matter where he played, he performed well. Always with the same enjoyment. That’s what still shines through in him. He’s genuine. He’s already a world-class footballer, and he’s going to get even better.”
It’s interesting to know about Neves’ “beach player” past, which explains some of his aerial ball control, chest passes, heading ability, and a few extraordinary volleys. There’s an explanation for it, beyond his talent.
And passion, of course. Like for many players, obviously. Except that we also see it in his mindset on the pitch, his dedication in every position. Neves gives his all, with as much brains as heart. He’s a special player, and PSG is very glad they took a chance on him when some thought the €65 million spent was too high.
Today, we can only hope to see the Portuguese player stay in Paris for a long time. Especially since he has plenty of time to improve even further, as his former coach pointed out.
