Ruben Neves will go down as one of the best Wolves players of the modern era, but the Portuguese thinks there was another player slightly better than him at Molineux.
Having helped guide Wolves from the Championship all the way to Europe, there aren’t many players loved more than Neves.
Ever since leaving for Saudi Arabia in 2023, Wolves fans have been hoping for Neves’ return, with many supporters dreaming of an iconic homecoming.
The Portuguese international was regarded by many as Wolves’ main man during his six-year stint at the club, but Neves himself thinks one of his ex-teammates was the real star player at Molineux.
Ruben Neves revealed his ‘best’ Wolves teammate
Neves was compared to Steven Gerrard during his time at Wolves, with his dominant midfield performances playing a key role in the club’s ascent into Europe.
The former Porto man would earn the majority of the headlines with his eye-catching long-range strikes, while his midfield partner Joao Moutinho, would go under the radar with his dazzling displays.
Moutinho’s performances regularly stunned his Wolves teammates, including Neves, who was quick to sing the praises of his midfield partner in 2019.
When asked by SoccerAm who Wolves’ best player was, Neves quickly responded with:
“João Moutinho. He is a very good player, very clever and very intelligent.”
“He also has a lot of experience, so for me he is the best player.”
Where is Joao Moutinho now?
Following his Wolves departure in 2023, many would have expected Moutinho to join Neves in the cash-rich Saudi Arabia.
The 38-year-old, however, had other ideas and believed he could still provide the goods at the top level, deciding to return home with Portuguese outfit S.C. Braga.
| Joao Moutinho’s SC Braga stats | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| 24/25 season | 35 | 2 | 2 |
| 23/24 season | 44 | 3 | 2 |
Despite being nearly 40 years old, Moutinho has continued to impress in the Liga Portugal, helping Braga in their race for European football.
Some believe Moutinho left Wolves too early, and his performances in Europe could suggest so.