Former Premier League midfielder, who currently plays for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Ruben Neves disclosed that he was on the verge of joining either Barcelona or Arsenal before eventually moving to the Middle East.
From 2017 to 2023, Neves enjoyed a remarkable spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring in 253 matches across all competitions and contributing to the club's establishment as a Premier League mainstay.
Towards the latter part of his tenure at the Molineux stadium, Neves expressed his desire for a fresh challenge amid interest from elsewhere.
While Wolves were willing to consider offers for the Portuguese midfielder, they did not receive a realistic bid from a European club.
Consequently, the 26-year-old opted to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal in the summer for a fee of £47 million, committing to a three-year deal.
Thus far, the move has proven fruitful, with Al-Hilal leading the Saudi Pro League by seven points and progressing to the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.
Neves has spoken positively about his time with Al-Hilal, expressing his intention to remain with the club for at least two more seasons.
However, in an interview with O Jogo, Neves admitted feeling "disheartened" when potential moves to Barcelona or Arsenal did not materialise.
He said: "I was close to three clubs and it didn't happen, which saddened me and helped me make the decision to go to Al Hilal.
"I didn't want to put names forward, but Barcelona was one of the hottest and it wasn't a lie. It was close to happening, just like with Arsenal.
"Then there was another club outside England. It was events that piled up and then, with this golden opportunity [to sign for Al Hilal], I had no hesitation in accepting. I was already calloused with transfers that don't happen."
Barcelona's financial constraints prevented them from meeting Wolves' valuation, while Arsenal opted to splash over £100 million on West Ham United's Declan Rice rather than pursuing Neves, who was available for half the price.