Welcome to Wolves Ruben Neves

[MARKakaJIM]

Let's be honest, it's dodgy as fuck, and he could have walked into 10+ starting lineups in Spain, France, Germany, Italy or England. This isn't a lad that's been sold a project, or followed a manager he loves. It's a player that's here at the behest of his agent, and no other reason.

Now fortunately, I think Mendes is astute enough, and with enough quality available to us through him, to actually make it come off. In three years time, Neves will be playing top ten PL football, with or without us. The relationship between Fosun and Mendes will be to our benefit, but let's not pretend it's not a bit cute.

There will always be questionable motives around Mendes, he might be involved in football but his role is purely about making cash so there will inevitably be moves like this one with Neves that don't seem to make a great deal of sense from the players point of view, just like Falcao working his way up the European ladder only to drop back down to Monaco in a nothing phase because no-one else had the cash, but he's connected with the clubs at either end so he can make these deals happen.

It'll be interesting to see how the relationship develops as Wolves rise up the league, as you'd expect them to, at the moment it's not really difficult to bring in improvements due to the lowly state of the club compared to the others than Mendes can use his influence over so even relative cast offs like Costa last season can turn out to be a big success but that may not be so easy as Wolves get higher up and require better quality to improve. You'd think with the TV money available in this country it would stand them in a better position than say the Portuguese clubs he's heavily involved with as they need the income from transfers more than Wolves would in the Premier League so in theory that could lead to less unwelcome transfers away but could also mean more sketchy 'favour' signings where the pot of cash needs topping up elsewhere. Not that I think Fosun would be taken for a ride by Mendes but at the same time I don't think they'd be so naive as to think a marginal stake in his company is going to have him running scared, obeying their every wish, they'll know there will need to be a bit of give and take at times to balance out the relationship and keep everyone happy.

 

[Freddeno]

Tonight we're going to party like it's 1994

Bring it on, WC 94..bronze medal, was electric here in sweden

 

[Alan]

It's all good press unless we fuck this season up.

 

[Langers]

Some interesting quotes from Neves regarding his move here - I've c&p'd them together from this thread:

https://twitter.com/PortuBall/status/890134494400983041

I'm still very young and I need to continue to evolve. I needed to play more so I accepted Wolves' offer with my eyes closed. I love Porto, but I need to develop. I was stalling. To blame? Danilo, but he's the Liga's best #6 & Porto's best player. I know I've to give my best to Wolves, but I'll get more opportunities in the future and people will see all that I can give. I spoke with Nuno before accepting Wolves' offer as I already knew him from last season. I liked this project & his words. I want to realize my goals and one of them is to be champion with Porto. I will certainly be back to achieve that one day.

 

[Wolvensam]

We were always going to be a stepping stone for the lad. If he really impresses here the Premier League big boys will be sniffing around in no time.

 

[Leigh Griffiths' Hairline]

Nothing wrong with that, I think we all knew it.

Won't stop the PASSHUN brigade though

 

[Johnny75]

Nothing wrong with that, I think we all knew it.

Won't stop the PASSHUN brigade though

Unfortunately the FFP morons won't be sated either even if we sell him for £1bn.

 

[Wolvensam]

It's James Fielden who is getting on my wick at the moment.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

We were always going to be a stepping stone for the lad. If he really impresses here the Premier League big boys will be sniffing around in no time.

If Wolves get promoted this season, I imagine that Fosun will be spending quite a lot of money on players, and maybe our ambitions will enable us to keep our better players.

 

[Johnny75]

If Wolves get promoted this season, I imagine that Fosun will be spending quite a lot of money on players, and maybe our ambitions will enable us to keep our better players.

I think we all hope that Frank.

 

[Kenny]

If Wolves get promoted this season, I imagine that Fosun will be spending quite a lot of money on players, and maybe our ambitions will enable us to keep our better players.

Naturally promotion will help us keep hold of some of the bigger players but if the really big clubs make moves for our better players, it really doesn't matter who you are owned by as if a player decides he wants to go, nothing you can do really. What will be interesting if we go up is the level of player we can get from the big big of Mendes clients, because right now we are on a page we have no right to be so god knows what the next step is.

 

[Johnny75]

Naturally promotion will help us keep hold of some of the bigger players but if the really big clubs make moves for our better players, it really doesn't matter who you are owned by as if a player decides he wants to go, nothing you can do really. What will be interesting if we go up is the level of player we can get from the big big of Mendes clients, because right now we are on a page we have no right to be so god knows what the next step is.

Buying a fucking striker I hope.

 

[Kenny]

Buying a fucking striker I hope.

Is the 16 year old saviour not enough for you? Some people.....

 

[Langers]

True - if we'd have signed players in the calibre of Neves and Jota when we were last in the Prem this place would be fap central. The fact they're here when we're still in the Championship is crazy. Fuck knows how ambitious we'd be if/when we get back to the Premier League. Just need to complete that easy task of getting promoted I suppose....

 

[Deleted Cyber]

True - if we'd have signed players in the calibre of Neves and Jota when we were last in the Prem this place would be fap central. The fact they're here when we're still in the Championship is crazy. $#@! knows how ambitious we'd be if/when we get back to the Premier League. Just need to complete that easy task of getting promoted I suppose....

The model already exists. See Man City and Chelsea. This lot really are keen to show their intent this year it appears.

 

[Alan]

Those quotes read more like damage control than anything, IMO. Porto fans will see his move here as a slap in the face to what they see as a club that is exponentially bigger (both in Portugal and Europe) than Wolves.

If we establish ourselves in the Prem in the next two seasons (ie, promotion this year, not relegated next year), his tune could very well change. Otherwise, I expect he'll be back in Portugal the second Danilo Pereira signs elsewhere.

 

[leedswolf]

Is the 16 year old saviour not enough for you? Some people.....

Where's the money gone?

 

[Siggy]

I like the fact that Neves is honest, Porto is his club and there is nothing wrong with him saying he would like to return one day. It might be he returns in 10 years after winning the premier league title with Wolves for all we know, the way Fosun are investing there is nothing to suggest we can't go up, stay up and compete.

Much can change in a year or so, if we are playing well then go up and compete he might decide he likes it here. Either way we have to accept that we will be a stepping stone as we were for Afobe for certain players, the calibre of those players has in the last year jumped up quite significantly and I am very comfortable with that

 

[Parkins left foot]

I like the fact that Neves is honest, Porto is his club and there is nothing wrong with him saying he would like to return one day. It might be he returns in 10 years after winning the premier league title with Wolves for all we know, the way Fosun are investing there is nothing to suggest we can't go up, stay up and compete.

Much can change in a year or so, if we are playing well then go up and compete he might decide he likes it here. Either way we have to accept that we will be a stepping stone as we were for Afobe for certain players, the calibre of those players has in the last year jumped up quite significantly and I am very comfortable with that

His comment isn't worth any consideration - he is a young player with a possible very good future in the game - ultimately if he does well, but the club don't get promoted then would expect him to want to move forward with his career at a higher level (which may include Porto)

As said elsewhere (most eloquently in Deutsch's Blog) he is a least young enough to have a good resale value. In that case we will take the increased fee, reinvest & try again.

 

[The Bear]

Exactly. He's hardly going to profess his love for Wolves and say he's gonna see out his contract.