Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves has stunned fans after arriving at training in a surprisingly modest vehicle that’s a far cry from the supercars usually driven by soccer stars.
The 21-year-old Portuguese player, who earns a reported €175,000 (approximately $200,000) per week for the French team, was spotted driving a white 2021 Peugeot Partner van, which sells for around $10,000.
A fan video posted on TikTok shows the soccer player stopping by the training ground gates to sign autographs before driving off in the van bearing Portuguese license plates.
Professional soccer players are known for flaunting their wealth, especially when it comes to building up a portfolio of high-end sports cars.
Fans were shocked by his choice of vehicle, but ultimately praised him for being down to earth. “He’s officially the most humble player of all time,” said one fan on TikTok.
Others compared the player to the French player N'Golo Kanté, who would sometimes arrive at training on a bicycle.
“Kante took the public bus to get to training sometimes [he] went walking or by bike,” they commented.
One fan remarked that the type of vehicle is usually used by tradespeople or delivery drivers, joking: “Joao neves is a delivery driver as a side hustle respect bro.”
“A true Portuguese man, he came with the van right after leaving the construction site,” said another comment translated from French.
@waybe19 ♬ son original - W
Aside from Kanté, Manchester United’s star player, Bruno Fernandes, has been seen in a Mini Cooper JCW that retails for around $38,900, as well as a family-friendly BMW X5.
Meanwhile, former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was once pictured leaving training in a tiny Smart ForTwo.
Neves was acquired by PSG two years ago in a €60 million ($64.9 million) transfer from Benfica, signing a five-year deal that runs until June 2029.
Neves is building one of Europe’s top midfield partnerships alongside Vitinha, who is also his teammate on the Portugal national team. He represented his country at various levels, including UEFA Euro 2024 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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