The Portugal international attracted reported interest from Manchester City and Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal, while Tottenham were also linked with him. Chelsea were reluctant to sell and placed a £100million valuation on the winger, who signed an improved contract in September that runs until 2032.
Neto acknowledged that the transfer window had affected him, but said his fiancée, Carolina, helped him deal with the uncertainty.
“She has been the base of emotional control. Maybe in the transfer window I was a little bit crazy, because I wanted to solve things here. She helped me a lot. We feel like home here,” Neto said in an interview with The Times.
His future now appears settled, and his role has evolved under Alonso. The Chelsea manager has used him as a right wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation, giving him a different set of responsibilities while retaining the attacking qualities that made him an important option on the flank.
Neto scored both goals in Chelsea’s 2-0 win away to Everton last Saturday, underlining his value in the new system. His performances have also helped explain why the club were keen to keep him rather than accept a summer offer.
The winger credited Alonso’s personal approach as a major factor in his decision to remain at Stamford Bridge.
“Always be hungry for more. This is the mentality the coach is trying to build around the team,” Neto said.
“I think the biggest point was the manager. He talked to me and explained what he wanted. He made sure that I felt like I was wanted by him. Then the owner [Behdad Eghbali], as well, made sure that I was happy here.
“I was really happy that we could agree [the contract]. When you feel like you are appreciated, you always feel like home. That was the feeling that I had.”
The contract extension gives Chelsea long-term security over a player who has already become a flexible part of Alonso’s plans. Neto can operate in an advanced wide position or drop deeper when the team needs him to help defend.
For the player, however, the decision was about more than his position on the pitch. The conversations with Alonso and the reassurance from the club helped him feel that he had a clear place in the project.
With his future committed to Chelsea for another six years, Neto can now concentrate on delivering consistently in the role his manager has designed for him.