Wolves have had a torrid season so far but many feel their squad of players are in a false position in the Premier League table.
Although Gary O’Neil is on the verge of being sacked, he can be credited for improving several of his stars, including midfielder Joao Gomes.
Gomes was captured from Flamengo in January 2023 for £15 million, but his career at Molineux didn’t truly take off till O’Neil arrived in August 2023.
Now, the 23-year-old is one of Wolves’ most important players, with O’Neil praising how much Gomes has grown as a leader.
The Brazilian leads by example in the middle of the park with his ferocious and all-action performances, as does another one of his teammates.
Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammates Joao Gomes and Andre during the Premier League mat...
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
Joao Gomes loves how much Matheus Cunha has grown as a leader
Wolves forward Matheus Cunha joins Gomes and Andre as one of three Brazilians in the squad.
Cunha is inarguably O’Neil’s most important player, having plundered seven goals and supplied three assists in the Premier League this season.
His influence in the squad is phenomenal and Wolves want to give Cunha a new contract to warn off interest from big clubs such as Manchester United and Tottenham.
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Equally, Gomes feels his teammate’s influence in the dressing room has grown, citing how important he is off the pitch and how much he’s grown as a ‘leader’.
“We have to do everything that we possibly can to create more chances and opportunities for him score for us. He has been key for us, not only off but also of the pitch, you can really see how much he has grown in leadership, and how important that is for us as a team,” Gomes told Wolves’ official website.
Cunha also helped Gomes settle in at Molineux
It took a while for Cunha to become one of the best Premier League forwards after signing from Atletico Madrid for £44m in 2023.
But, the 25-year-old showed early signs of becoming a prominent member of the squad, as Gomes explains how important his teammate was in helping him ‘adapt’ to life at Molineux.
Gomes didn’t know much English at the time so the help from his Brazilian compatriot is something he’ll always remember.
“Everyone is really important to me,” the midfielder added. “But obviously, because I’ve been here for a little while longer, I have built a good relationship with Matheus.
“He was really important for me to adapt, because at the time I barely knew any English. I still don’t know that much English, but he was so important to me. We have been building this good relationship on and off the pitch, which means a lot to me.”
In many ways, Gomes and Cunha have been two shining lights in a dismal campaign so far for Wolves, and they’ll need to avoid relegation to stand any chance of keeping the pair.
However, even staying in the Premier League doesn’t guarantee them staying beyond the summer, with European clubs interested in Gomes.
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