Ruben Neves’ departure from Wolves left a noticeable void, but his time at Molineux cemented him as one of the club’s all-time fan favourites.
His composure on the ball and ability to dictate the tempo made him a true midfield maestro, capable of changing games with moments of brilliance.
Wolves have since brought in Andre, who showed his quality against Everton by completing every pass he attempted.
Despite Andre’s promising performances, many supporters still yearn for a player of Neves’ calibre.
The 28-year-old’s leadership in midfield remains the benchmark, with his legacy reminding Old Gold fans of the standards required to challenge consistently in the Premier League.
Ruben Neves open to Premier League return ahead of the World Cup
Wolves fans were left stunned by Neves’ performance against Real Madrid during the Club World Cup, when he reminded them of his quality.
Neves, who left Wolves for Al Hilal two years ago, could be returning to England with his future in Saudi Arabia uncertain.
Previously, the midfielder has been linked with a potential January move to Manchester United.
Speaking to The United Stand, journalist Ben Jacobs suggested that Neves could leave Saudi Arabia and make a return to England either in January or next summer.
He said: “I think there’s concrete possibility that Neves will leave Al-Hilal. I’m just not sure at this point if we’re talking January or the summer, but I think within the next two windows, he will leave.
“And there may be a possibility, depending on what Al-Hilal do in their own midfield, specifically in January, that he becomes available on a loan and has a desire to run back to the Premier League 6 months before a World Cup.”
How Neves compares to Joao Gomes
Neves spent several years at Wolves and cemented his status as a fan favourite with his technical ability and long-range goals.
While Joao Gomes has been at the club for a shorter period, he has already made meaningful contributions, popping up with both goals and assists like Neves did.
| Player | Ruben Neves | Joao Gomes |
| Apperances | 253 | 96 |
| Goals | 30 | 7 |
| Assists | 13 | 4 |
The two have different profiles and rarely had the chance to play together.
The Portugal international is more technical and excels in controlling the tempo, while Gomes has impressed the Molineux faithful with his off-the-ball work and his ability to dribble and maneuver in tight spaces.
Since moving to the West Midlands, the Brazilian has consistently impressed, but he will need to maintain that level of performance if he is to reach the same heights and status that Neves achieved at Wolves.