“He is very fast" - Jose Mourinho's old comments on Chelsea-bound Pedro Neto resurface
Jose Mourinho's old comments on Chelsea-bound Pedro Neto have resurfaced. The Blues have reportedly struck a surprise agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers and they are set to improve their ranks with Neto (via David Ornstein).
During his stay in English football, Neto has caused trouble to several opponents with his blistering pace and the ability to deliver crosses. Mourinho once hailed Neto's pace after one of Wolves' games against Tottenham Hotspur in 2021. The Portuguese manager was in charge of Spurs back then.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Mourinho said (via The Chelsea Chronicle):
"He is very fast. Wolves do fantastic work in the selection of the profile of their players. They know what they want, they choose a profile of players adapted to the qualities of the team."
Mourinho further added:
"Adama Traore, Pedro Neto, Diogo Jota, Daniel Podence, they are all very, very fast."
Neto, 24, joined Wolves back in 2019 and has so far made 135 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 24 assists. Neto has shown his quality during his stay in English football but the Portugal international has struggled with injuries.
Since joining Wolves, Neto has suffered seven different injuries. Given Chelsea's current track record with player injuries, this is something the Stamford Bridge club need to be wary of.
Neto can bamboozle defenders and whip in consistent crosses. His measurement, though, could be off at times, as was on display during Portugal vs Georgia at Euro 2024. Neto, despite delivering numerous crosses, barely found any attacking targets inside the box and often overhit his attempts.
That said, he certainly has raw ability and could prove to be a useful player for a club like the Blues.
Wolves' stance on Chelsea bound Pedro Neto's departure
Chelsea are reportedly paying a hefty £54 million to sign Pedro Neto from Wolves. The Portugal international was previously linked with moves to Premier League sides like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Wolves boss Gary O'Neil had already made his stance crystal clear on the matter, telling the Express and Star Podcast that the club won't stand in Neto's way if a mega bid came in. He said (via football.london):
"He's in a good spot, we're all grown ups and we know this could change very quickly. If a massive bid comes in from a top club, nobody is going to stand in his way."
Chelsea have reportedly gotten the player they wanted and Enzo Maresca has now bolstered his winger options ahead of the 2024-25 season.