Contract terms have been set out by Wolves for an exciting young attacker.
Promising young forward Mateus Mane has agreed a new contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers, turning down interest from a host of Premier League rivals and clubs from across Europe.
Mane made his English top-flight debut last month as he came on as a late substitute for a few precious minutes at the end of the 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. The 17-year-old replaced knackered defensive midfielder Andre and received a huge standing ovation from the Molineux faithful, who had been patiently awaiting Mane’s bow following several call-ups to the Wolves bench.
It was the fourth time Mane had been named in a Premier League matchday squad, the first at home to Fulham on February 25 and the others against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, before the clash with Brighton. It was a great opportunity for the teenager to gain experience and his brief cameo meant he became the youngest ever player to make his Premier League debut for Wolves.
Several clubs had been monitoring Mane’s situation long before his Premier League bow but Mane believes Molineux is the best place for him to develop, at least initially. The hot prospect will soon put that in writing, too, as our sister publication, Express & Star, reported over the weekend that Mane has fully agreed terms on a new, long-term contract.
Vitor Pereira outlines plan for wonderkid Wolves forward
Mane’s cameo against Brighton was the first appearance of many to come, it would seem, as Vitor Pereira has often spoken of his delight at the forward’s progress. The head coach confirmed after the Brighton game that the 17-year-old would be fully introduced to the senior team next season, an exciting proposition.
“Mane, I’m sure that he will be a surprise in England, in this league, because he’s a player with talent,” Pereira said. “For sure, next season he’ll be in the first-team squad with us. He’s not only a talent, he’s a worker and for me, in that moment of the game, it was not just to give him the minutes. It was because I thought he could do something. He’s special.”
Age just a number in Vitor Pereira’s eyes
The intensity of the Premier League is like nothing else many young players will have ever come across, but Pereira says age is just a number. If the talent is there, the Wolves head coach isn’t concerned about how young or old a player is; he’ll utilise them regardless. When asked if he was worried about Mane’s age, Pereira’s response was simply: “I don’t care.”
These comments will be music to the ears of young Mane, who will be desperate to earn more senior minutes after his first taste of Premier League football. Predominantly a centre-forward but also capable of playing on the right wing or as an attacking midfielder, Mane has scored eight goals and made five assists in 20 games for Wolves at youth level.
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