WOLVES fired a parting blast at Manchester City bound midfielder Matheus Nunes and told their record £53million departure: We’re better off without you.
The Brazilian could have left with the best wishes of the Molineux club after Wolves raked in a club record fee for the 25-year-old – including 10 per cent of any future sell-on profit City might make on him.
https://www.instagram.com/mancity/Nunes completed a move to Man City this week[/caption]
PAThe midfielder forced a move away from Wolves[/caption]
However Nunes‘ controversial decision to down tools and take strike action to try and force Wolves’ hand in the final week of the transfer window has left a sour taste at his former club.
And Pep Guardiola‘s new arrival can expect a frosty reception when he returns to Molineux later this month with City.
Wolves’ Sporting director Matt Hobbs admitted: “I was disappointed with how it ended, it wasn’t necessary the stance Matheus took.
“We ended with a good resolution for everyone.
“Matheus is a hugely talented player but would admit that last season he didn’t hit the heights he expected, but it was a tough season for the team, so maybe he wasn’t allowed to do that.”
Privately Wolves are seething that Nunes felt the need to put a gun to their head by refusing to train, after they backed him and invested a club record fee to land him.
They paid Sporting an initial £38million plus £4.2million in add-ons to give the Brazilian his big break in the Premier League and a chance to impress.
However, despite scoring Wolves’ Goal of the Season in April with a scorching volley against Chelsea last season, it was the only time Nunes found the net in 41 appearances.
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Now, Wolves have banked a rapid £10million-plus-profit and leveraged a cut-price deal to land City midfielder Tommy Doyle on loan with an option to buy for a bargain £5million – around £10million less than might have been expected.
Hobbs claims that bit of business has left Wolves stronger without Nunes.
He said: “We’ve lost a player with a lot of potential, a lot of ability, but the situation has led to us bringing a greater number of players in to improve the squad and provide competition in the group.
“The players here want competition in training, so while we’ve lost a good player, it’s made us a more competitive and better squad overall.”