Chelsea have signed Pedro Neto for £54m (Photo: Getty)
Pedro Neto was in floods of tears ahead of his £54million transfer to Chelsea, Wolverhampton Wanderers’ sporting director has revealed.
On Sunday, at half-time of their pre-season friendly against Inter Milan, Chelsea announced the signing of Neto and presented him to the Stamford Bridge faithful.
The winger had long been a target for Arsenal and Tottenham but has ended up in west London instead as part of Enzo Maresca’s rebuild of the club.
Neto has spoken of his excitement over the move and the chance to play for one of the biggest clubs in Europe, telling Chelsea’s official website: ‘My expectations for myself are always high.
‘The expectations here are high, so I’m looking forward to showing people why I am here, and that I deserve to be at the very top level.’
But Wolves chief Matt Hobbs has revealed that the 24-year-old actually found departing Molineux extremely tough and emotional.
‘As hard as it was for us, I think it was probably harder for Pedro. Tears all morning at the training ground,’ Hobbs told Wolves’ official website.
Neto spent five years at Wolves (Photo: Getty)
‘I don’t think Pedro wanted to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers, and I’ve spoken to him since and he’ll always love the club. But it felt like an opportunity for him that he couldn’t turn down and a deal for us we couldn’t turn down.
‘Pedro gets to go and compete in European football – Chelsea, with the amount of money they spend, have to be under pressure for titles and Champions League football.
‘So, he’ll get that opportunity, but nobody should think this was easy for Pedro. For me, it was right for everyone, but also really upsetting for everyone.’
Neto made 135 appearances for Wolves after signing from Braga in 2019, scoring 14 goals and making 24 assists, with his scintillating form last season earning him a place in Portugal’s Euro 2024 squad.
‘Everyone knows the player he is – he’s a world class winger who has been so unlucky with injuries, so we’ll miss him on the pitch obviously, but also around the training ground with his energy and the relationship he had with so many people,’ Hobbs added.
‘It was a tough one, but it felt fair because of what Pedro had been through, with the various injuries, and it’s a great opportunity for him. The deal is one that works for us and Pedro, but by no means does it make it any easier.’
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