Manchester City fans have reacted with disbelief after Chelsea reportedly placed a huge £100 million price tag on Pedro Neto.
The Portuguese winger has emerged as a potential target for City as Enzo Maresca continues to reshape the squad following his appointment as Pep Guardiola’s successor in June 2026.
However, the reported valuation has not gone down well with supporters.
A City Xtra post discussing Chelsea’s stance prompted an overwhelmingly negative reaction from Manchester City fans. Many supporters questioned whether Neto is worth anywhere near £100m, while others urged the club to abandon the pursuit altogether.
The reaction was particularly strong because City supporters appear to believe there are better-value alternatives available in the transfer market.
‘What are they smoking?’ – Man City fans stunned
One of the most common themes in the reaction was disbelief.
A supporter asked: “What are they smoking over there at Stamford Bridge?”
Another simply responded: “What are these people even smoking?”
Those reactions underline just how unrealistic the £100m valuation appears to many City supporters.
Manchester City have already been involved in some huge transfer deals this summer. The club’s reported £116m move for Elliot Anderson has demonstrated that City are willing to spend heavily when they believe the right player is available.
Yet that does not mean supporters are prepared to accept every asking price.
For many fans, the difference is whether the player represents sufficient value.
Neto is an experienced Premier League winger, but his injury history and inconsistent output have made some supporters question whether he deserves a valuation approaching nine figures.
Reports have suggested Chelsea are aware of the strong market for wide players and are therefore unwilling to let Neto leave cheaply.
That strategy may be understandable from Chelsea’s perspective.
From City’s perspective, however, fans clearly want the club to negotiate firmly.
‘Worth max 30 million’
One of the strongest reactions came from a supporter who claimed Neto is “Worth max 30 million.”
Another went even further, saying he is “barely worth 20 btw.”
Those comments reveal the huge gap between Chelsea’s reported valuation and the price some Manchester City supporters believe would be reasonable.
Of course, fan valuations are rarely the same as professional transfer valuations.
Neto is a proven Premier League player with international experience. Chelsea paid a reported £54m to sign him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2024, and he has since established himself as an important attacking option at Stamford Bridge.
Still, supporters are looking at the situation from City’s point of view.
If Chelsea want £100m, City must decide whether Neto is good enough to justify that level of investment.
Judging by these reactions, many fans have already reached their conclusion.
‘Move on City’ is the message from supporters
Perhaps the clearest response came from one supporter who wrote: “Move on city ffs.”
That sentiment was echoed throughout the reaction.
Instead of spending £100m on Neto, many supporters would prefer Manchester City to explore other options.
This is particularly relevant because City are understood to have several attacking players on their radar.
Pedro Neto was added to the club’s shortlist as City consider potential replacements for Savinho, who has been strongly linked with a move away from the Etihad.
The situation gives City a difficult decision.
Neto is clearly an attractive option. He knows the Premier League, possesses pace and can play on either flank. More importantly, Maresca already knows him from their time together at Chelsea.
But those advantages may not be enough to justify £100m.
If Chelsea refuse to negotiate significantly, City supporters appear comfortable with the idea of walking away.
Fans remember the criticism over Gordon
One of the more interesting reactions brought Anthony Gordon into the conversation.
A supporter wrote: “Mfs were making fun of us for signing Gordon for 70m.”
The comment reflects the changing transfer market.
Big fees have become increasingly common for attacking players. Manchester City fans have seen their own club pay substantial sums for players, while rivals have also spent enormous amounts on young and established talent.
The point is that transfer valuations can look completely different depending on the circumstances.
Chelsea reportedly value Neto at around £100m because of the current winger market. Other high-profile wide players are also attracting enormous valuations, helping clubs justify demanding more money.
But City fans are not necessarily convinced that Neto belongs in that financial bracket.
The Maresca factor makes the story interesting
There is another layer to this transfer story.
Maresca knows Pedro Neto extremely well.
During his time as Chelsea manager, Neto became one of his regular options. Reports have noted that Maresca favoured the Portuguese winger on the right side during their time together.
That familiarity could explain why Neto has emerged as a Manchester City target.
For Maresca, signing a player he already understands could reduce some of the uncertainty that comes with a major transfer.
Neto would also arrive with Premier League experience.
However, City’s supporters do not appear willing to let the manager’s relationship with the player dictate the price.
The reaction suggests that fans would support the signing at a sensible figure but strongly oppose paying £100m.
That distinction could become important during negotiations.
Some fans want Manchester City to target Mbaye instead
One supporter offered a very simple alternative:
“get MBAYE.”
That reaction is significant because Ibrahim Mbaye has also been mentioned among the attacking options being considered in the wider market.
For supporters focused on the future, a younger player may be more attractive than spending £100m on an established winger.
There are obvious risks, though.
A younger player may need time to adapt to English football and the demands of Manchester City.
Neto, by contrast, already understands the Premier League.
That makes the decision more complicated than simply comparing transfer fees.
City must balance immediate quality with long-term squad planning.
Not every fan reaction was serious
The City Xtra post also generated plenty of laughing emojis and short expressions of disbelief.
Several supporters responded with strings of laughing or crying emojis, while others simply wrote “Wtfff” or “WHAT.”
That tells its own story.
The £100m figure appears to have caught supporters completely off guard.
Instead of sparking excitement about a potential new signing, the valuation produced frustration and jokes.
For a fanbase accustomed to City’s involvement in expensive transfers, that is telling.
Supporters may accept large fees when they believe the player is an elite talent or has the potential to become one.
The reaction to Neto suggests many do not believe £100m falls into that category.
‘Everybody is worth 100M nowadays’
Another supporter summed up the frustration by writing:
“Everybody is worth 100M nowadays lol.”
That may be the biggest takeaway from the entire reaction.
The modern transfer market has changed dramatically.
Elite wingers are now among the most expensive assets in football. Clubs know that replacements can be difficult to find, so selling clubs have greater leverage when negotiating.
Chelsea appear to be using that leverage with Neto.
Manchester City, meanwhile, have no obligation to accept it.
The club can continue exploring alternatives if the asking price remains too high.
That may ultimately be the preferred outcome for many supporters.
Fans do not want Maresca’s reunion to become an expensive mistake
One reaction called for Maresca to be “sack[ed]” immediately.
Clearly, that comment should be viewed as frustration and humour rather than a serious assessment of the manager’s position.
Still, it illustrates how quickly transfer speculation can influence supporter sentiment.
Maresca has only recently begun his Manchester City reign. His decisions in the transfer market will inevitably receive intense scrutiny.
If City spend £100m on Neto and the winger performs brilliantly, supporters will quickly forget the price.
If he struggles, however, the fee would become a constant talking point.
That is why the reported valuation matters so much.
Man City fans send a clear message on Pedro Neto
The reaction to Chelsea’s reported £100m price tag is difficult to misunderstand.
Manchester City supporters are not necessarily rejecting Pedro Neto as a footballer.
Instead, they are rejecting the idea of paying £100m for him.
Comments such as “Move on city,” “Worth max 30 million,” and “barely worth 20” show that many fans believe Chelsea’s valuation is excessive.
City have several options.
They can negotiate.
They can wait.
Or they can move on to another target.
With the transfer window still providing opportunities, supporters appear to prefer the third option if Chelsea refuse to lower their demands.
Neto could still become a Manchester City player, particularly given his previous relationship with Maresca and his Premier League experience.
But if Chelsea really insist on £100m, the message from the fans is loud and clear: Manchester City should not overpay.
For a club entering a new era under Maresca, smart recruitment will be just as important as ambitious recruitment. And based on this reaction, City supporters want the new manager to make sure the club’s next big signing is worth every penny.
