A summer additiont to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Pedro Neto is beginning to blossom into one of Nuno Espirito Santo’s most promising assets since arriving from Lazio. It is obvious how much of an influence his new manager has on the teenager, as since November he has doubled his output of both goals and assists for the season, with six contributions in total. The Portuguese winger has had kind words for his new coach’s managerial methods, saying: “We work on movements, the way I have to think, the way that I have to defend. He is a great manager, and he has helped me.”
Neto, valued at £6.3m (Transfermarkt) has already broken one of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo’s numerous records, when he found the back of the net for Braga at the age of 17, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Primera Division. But that is not the only common ground the pair share as Neto says: “I work hard to be the best because it is what I want to be. It’s no sacrifice because I enjoy what I do.” The teenager added: “If I don’t think like that if I don’t want to be the best if I don’t work to be the best, I will end up, for example, top 10.”
That unwavering drive is what took Ronaldo from Premier League trickster to five-time Ballon D’Or winner, and as Neto clearly defines, he has the same relentless ambition to succeed. The teenager could yet mirror Portugal’s record goal scorer’s career once more this season, as he is just two goals short of the total Ronaldo amassed in his debut Premier League campaign, four. Matching that feat would represent taking the first step towards achieving his ambitions of becoming one of the world’s best.
In a relatively short period, thanks to astute coaching from his manager, Neto has travelled a long way in his debut Premier League campaign. The poultry £18m fee Wolves paid for the dual signing of Neto and Bruno Jordao from Lazio is beginning to appear an absolute steal. When the Portuguese winger does eventually move on, they could be set to make a tidy profit.
