Exclusive: Young defender names Man City star that he ‘admires’
Exclusive: Ricardo Neto reveals his admiration for Ruben DiasFor the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal will enter a major tournament without Kepler ‘Pepe’ Laveran de Lima Ferreira...
Exclusive: Young defender names Man City star that he ‘admires’ Exclusive: Ricardo Neto reveals his admiration for Ruben Dias For the first time since the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Portugal will enter a major tournament without Kepler ‘Pepe’ Laveran de Lima Ferreira in defense. With Pepe retiring following the 2024 Euros, Portugal’s new leader in defense won’t be the ex-Real Madrid center back, but instead Rúben dos Santos Gato Alves Dias. Born on May 14, 1997, Dias rose through the ranks at Benfica’s academy before breaking into the first team and leading them to the 2018/19 Liga Portugal title.
These stellar displays didn’t just see him become a regular in Portugal’s backline, but they also drew the attention of Premier League club Manchester City, who paid €68 million that could rise to €71. 6 million with performance-related bonuses, with Nicolás Otamendi heading the other way for €15 million. Dias enjoyed a seamless transition to life in England, offering composure, leadership and stability and helping City wrestle the title back from Liverpool’s grasps as well as win the EFL Cup.
It’s these stellar displays which saw him the FWA Footballer of the Year for the 2020–21 season – becoming the first defender to win the award since Steve Nicol in the 1988–89 season – as well as Manchester City’s Player of the Season and the Premier League Player of the Season. Photo IMAGO Another title would follow in 2021/22, which saw Dias miss the final two months of the season with a hamstring problem. However, his greatest season came in 2022/23, with City winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy and completing a continental treble.
He continued his sensational displays in 2023/24, helping the Cityzens claim an unprecedented fourth straight league title. Dias has not only proven essential as a leader in City and Portugal’s backline, but he’s also served as an inspiration for countless other young Portuguese defenders such as Ricardo Neto , who won the U-17 Euros and U-17 World Cup last year. “I really admire Rubén Dias and his presence on the field,” stated Neto in an exclusive EPL Index interview.