An incredible season at Wolverhampton Wanderers has been epitomised by one incredible player in particular, Ruben Neves.
Ruben Neves came to the club with high acclaim and a huge expectancy on his shoulders.
The youngest Champions League captain in the competition’s history cost Wolves a record breaking fee of £15.8 million from Portuguese giants Porto.
A figure that raised eyebrows with many touting that he
wouldn’t be able to hack the tough and often gruelling standard of English’s second division football.
Fast forward nine months and that multi-million transfer fee seems a snip.
Ruben Neves took the league exceedingly well, similar to the vain of fellow summer signings Jota, Barry Douglas and Willy Boly.
But there is something else about Ruben Neves that sets him apart from rest.
The stylish centre midfielder oozes class, charisma and confidence.
He has an outstanding range of passing abilities and possesses an eye for goal like no other.
But he also wins a strong amount of midfield duels and isn’t afraid of tackling when needed.
Himself and Romain Saiss have calmly and effectively ran the midfield for the vast majority of the season and have played a huge part in our forwards racking up the goals along the way.
Despite being only 21-years- old, Ruben Neves has acted like an experienced member of the squad featuring in over 40 league games this season.
Wolves are simply a worse team when he is absent and are able
to step up an extra gear and truly steamroll over teams when he is present.
Many are even heralding him as one of the best players to have ever graced the Championship and it is hard to disagree.
He also appears to have taken it upon himself to create a goal of the season competition with himself since arriving.
His six goals and have all come from outside the box and have left goalkeepers absolutely dumbfounded with the precision and accuracy he is able to get from such a long range.
His stunning opener against Sheffield United, his cute finish in the 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and of course, his winning free kick in the dramatic title contender clash with Cardiff will all be remembered fondly for some time.
But none of his goals can be matched by his absolute wonder strike against Derby County.
A shoo in for goal of the season, Neves’ half volley from 30+ yards left former England keeper Scott Carson in stunned disbelief and has been said to be the best goal ever scored at Molinuex.
Ruben #Neves is too good for #Championship. What a goal from #Woves star against #Derby!#GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/0jRbpODQP7
— Aurimas Adomaitis (@AdomaitisAuris) April 12, 2018
The Portuguese starlet stellar year saw him win caps for his country, alongside nominations for both the EFL Championship player of the season award and EFL Championship young player of the season award.
Despite both awards going to Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, Ruben Neves did make it into the EFL Championship team of the season alongside fellow Wolves’ players John Ruddy and Connor Coady.
His form hasn’t gone unnoticed with Liverpool expressing serious interest in prying him away once the transfer window opens.
But Wolves fans will have everything crossed that he remains at the club for at least one full Premier League season to show on an even grander stage what he is capable of.
Whether he remains at the club or whether he moves away, his first season in England has been absolutely spectacular.
In years to come fans will be able to tell their kids and grandkids that they witnessed Ruben Neves play in the old gold and black and he fully deserving of the accolade of the Wolves Fancast Player of the Season Award.
Is Ruben Neves your Wolves Fancast Player of the Season? Cast your vote here.
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