It has been a treat to watch Pedro Neto at Wolves this season, but the electric youngster is under no illusion he is not the finished article and has shared two areas he’d like to improve in above all else.
Neto has been the star of the show this term for Wanderers.
After a tough couple of years with injuries, the 23-year-old has enjoyed a terrific campaign under Gary O’Neil, scoring three goals and making 11 assists in 22 appearances.
He had a hamstring injury earlier in the season which caused him to miss a couple of months, but when Neto has played he has generally always stood out.
Wolves undoubtedly have an ‘outstanding’ player on their hands, but Neto is still years away from the start of his peak and currently, there are two areas he feels he can get better in…
Pedro Neto eyes defensive improvement and wants to arrive in the box more for Wolves
One thing Neto has improved significantly this season is his end product.
The numbers speak for themselves, and fans now get the feeling that he will produce whenever he gets into the final third.
O’Neil has done great work with him in this area, just as he has with Matheus Cunha and Hwang Hee-chan.
But despite this, Neto feels like he needs to be getting into the box more.
The Portugal international is also keen to improve defensively. He told journalist Pedro Pinto in a new interview: “What I would like to improve the most is defensively. Sometimes understanding certain things that I’m still halfway through, you know? But it also takes time. It also depends on what the coach asks of me. I think now I’m much better.
“And then, it’s getting in the box. As I am a player who is used to, for example, coming to get a lot of the game, often I am a bit far, for example, I like to get the ball on my feet, and I might be a bit far from the box.
“Imagine the ball is on the other side, I came to get the ball on this side, and then I still have to run all the way to the box. It’s something I have to improve and of course, I will work on that.”
Neto is going to the top
It’s hard to imagine Neto not becoming one of the top players in the world later on in his career.
The star has just gone to a new level this season under O’Neil, having drastically improved his end product and decision-making.
He knows though that there are still plenty of things to work on, and his humility and work ethic should take him very far in his career.
In this interview with Pinto, he also mentions how Cristiano Ronaldo is his ultimate role model, and the superstar’s mentality and dedication are things Neto is actively trying to replicate.
The self-belief he has is also crystal clear, so he will surely go on to do amazing things in the game.