Enzo Maresca knows him better than almost anyone.
He coached him at Chelsea.
And he knows exactly what he’ll gets.
The directness.
The pace that defenders simply cannot live with on his best days.
And now, in his first summer window at the Etihad, he wants to bring him.
Manchester City prepare £70m bid for Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as Maresca looks to reunite with Portuguese star
According to The Sun, Manchester City are preparing a shock bid for Neto, lining up a £70 million offer for the 26-year-old Portugal international as Enzo Maresca looks to strengthen his attacking options at the Etihad by reuniting with a player he knows exceptionally well.
Chelsea are open to negotiations.
They are not actively seeking to sell.
But with a club-record £117 million move for Morgan Rogers already completed this summer, player sales are expected before the window closes.
And Neto has emerged as one of the names the club could consider letting go if the right proposal arrives.
The Maresca connection is central to everything.
The Italian manager oversaw some of Neto’s most consistent performances during his time at Stamford Bridge.
And his detailed knowledge of the player removes much of the risk that typically accompanies a £70 million signing.
He knows how to get the best from him.
Neto himself is understood to be keen on remaining in the Premier League.
Which gives Manchester City a significant advantage over their primary competition.
Neto contributed 13 goals and 10 assists across 58 appearances in all competitions last season.
Numbers that somewhat justify the £70 million valuation despite inconsistency being an occasional frustration.
At the Etihad, under the manager who originally unlocked his best form, that inconsistency may finally become a thing of the past.
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