Ruben Neves has sent a warm message of support to Wolverhampton Wanderers, saying he still watches them whenever he can and is hopeful they can secure a swift return to the top flight from the Championship this season.

The Portuguese midfielder, now 29, spent six years at Molineux before departing for Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal in the summer of 2023 in a deal reported at the time to be worth a then club-record £47 million. He captained Wolves for much of that period and remains, according to his own words, deeply attached to the club.

"Every time I can, I still watch Wolves," Neves told BBC Sport. "It's one of my favourite teams. Since I was there, I loved it and I have a lot of friends there."

Cup win prompts fond memories

Neves revealed he had been watching Wolves closely enough to have caught their recent EFL Cup victory over Port Vale, a 3-0 win that he said left him encouraged about what the season could hold.

"I watched the game against Port Vale in the EFL Cup so I'm very happy and I'm sure they will do very good in the Championship," he said.

The result and the occasion clearly stirred memories of his very first campaign at the club. In 2017-18, Neves arrived as a marquee signing from Porto and immediately made his mark, winning Wolves' Player of the Season award as the club stormed to the Championship title under manager Nuno Espirito Santo. That promotion set in train a five-year run in the top flight that came to an end with relegation last season.

"It reminds me of my first season there and I hope they come back to the Premier League as soon as possible," Neves added.

What Wolves' promotion push means

For Wolves supporters, those 2017-18 parallels will resonate. That campaign was defined by genuine quality throughout the squad, a settled system and a sense of collective purpose. The club will hope the current group can replicate at least some of those ingredients as they navigate what is always a fiercely competitive second tier.

Wolves were relegated after finishing bottom of the top flight last term and will be among the favourites in many quarters to bounce straight back up, given the resources and infrastructure still in place at Molineux. The Championship is unforgiving, however, and early-season form will be crucial in shaping how the campaign develops.

The backing of a former captain and crowd favourite such as Neves, even from the other side of the world, will at least be welcomed warmly by supporters who hold him in considerable affection.

Neves settled at Al-Hilal

For his part, Neves appears content in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hilal won the Saudi Pro League title in 2023-24 and have started the current campaign with back-to-back victories. Neves outlined his ambitions in straightforward terms: "I play for the biggest team in Asia so our main goal is to win every single trophy we play for, so for me, that's the most important."

That single-mindedness was a hallmark of his time at Molineux too, where his range of passing and ability to control tempo made him one of the most admired midfielders outside the top flight during Wolves' title-winning season. His legacy at the club remains significant, and his continued interest in their fortunes is unlikely to go unappreciated in the Black Country.

Whether Wolves can emulate that 2017-18 vintage and go up as champions, or must scrap through the play-offs, remains to be seen. But they have at least one prominent admirer watching on and willing them to succeed.

Frequently asked

Why did Ruben Neves leave Wolves?
Neves left Wolves in the summer of 2023 to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal in a deal reported to be worth a then club-record £47 million, ending a six-year spell at Molineux.
Are Wolves in the Championship this season?
Yes. Wolves were relegated from the top flight at the end of last season and are competing in the Championship this term, with promotion back up among their key objectives.
When did Neves win the Championship with Wolves?
Neves was part of the Wolves side that won the Championship title in the 2017-18 season under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, also picking up the club's Player of the Season award that campaign.