The former Wolves loanee played a starring role as PSG and Bayern Munich put on a nine goal Champions League thriller.
At football clubs there will always be transfers that work and transfers that don’t work.
In terms of the latter, there will be players that will arrive with ability, fail to make the grade and then not hit the heights that many predicted they would do.
But from time to time there will be players who don’t make the grade at a club, but go on to excel elsewhere.
And when it comes to former Wolves loanee Vitinha, he can certainly be filed under that category.
The midfielder became the latest Portuguese talent to arrive at Molineux back in 2020 - signing a season long loan from Porto.
Wolves held an £18m option to sign him permanently should his loan deal go well.
Porto were forced to move him on due to UEFA’s financial fair play rules - and there was a hope they could cash in on a future deal.
But after one season in the West Midlands, he was off. He very much flattered to deceive at Molineux.
He made 22 appearances, registered just one assist and scored just once. Granted it was a memorable one, a superb individual strike in an FA Cup win at non-league Chorley.
There was an occasional impressive display thrown into the mix, including in a Black Country derby draw at West Brom.
Vitinha during his Wolves daysplaceholder image
Vitinha during his Wolves days | Wolves via Getty Images
But at the end of his loan spell the decision was made to not take up the option to buy Vitinha. At the time it was viewed that the deal simply wasn’t worth it.
When he did arrive at the club, he was backed to excel and kick on in the Premier League. At the time he received a ringing endorsement from former Porto Luis Mata.
He said: “Vitinha really has a lot of quality and enormous potential.
“Step by step, and by gaining confidence in a different country and in a very demanding league, I believe he will be very successful at Wolves.
“He will do beautiful things at Wolves.“
Safe to say, he didn’t do ‘beautiful things’ at Molineux.
He returned to Porto and did a domestic double before a big money move to French and European giants Paris St Germain arrived.
They paid £34m for the failed Wolves loanee, and he has not looked back. Nine domestic titles and a Champions League later, and he is regarded as one of their most important players.
Vitinha, Ruben Neves and Ki Jana-Hoeverplaceholder image
Vitinha, Ruben Neves and Ki Jana-Hoever | Wolves via Getty Images
He featured in the 5-4 thriller on Tuesday evening against Bayern Munich - a far cry from the days away at Chorley.
So why didn’t it work for him at Wolves?
‘It was not easy’
If Vitinha had arrived at Wolves this season - he would have walked into their midfield.
Things were different back in 2020 though. They had Ruben Neves and they had Joao Moutinho.
Game time was always going to be difficult, as former boss Nuno explained in an interview after his departure.
But he did state that the experience at Wolves has played an impact in his development since then.
He said: “He is an amazing player. In Portugal we are fortunate to have players like him and (PSG team-mate) Joao Neves.
“For sure his time at Wolves was important. because he brought things to his game that you cannot find anywhere outside the Premier League. The physicality, the intensity of the game improves the players.
“Everybody saw the talent was there. Then you have to consider the impact of the physicality. We signed him when he was 20, and he was just getting used to the senior level, which was a big impact.
“And I have to be honest with you: we had Joao Moutinho, another amazing player. Sometimes young players who join can have the talent, but sometimes it is about the coach who makes the decisions.
“At that time, the midfield was Moutinho and Ruben Neves, so it was not easy for Vitinha. But he played a lot of games, went back to Porto and his level started rising and rising, improving. Now it is a joy to see how he is doing at PSG.”
In action for PSG in the 5-4 thriller with Bayern Munichplaceholder image
In action for PSG in the 5-4 thriller with Bayern Munich | Getty Images
At PSG, the former Wolves man is loved by the supporters and more recently has received high praise from PSG boss Luis Enrique, who called him ‘the perfect midfielder’.
Back in February, he said: “He is unique.
“In possession, he is vital for us in his pivot role, he manages the ball perfectly, he does not lose it, and brings a lot to the team.
“He is strong physically, mentally, and he plays a difficult and complicated role in the PSG midfield. He embodies the perfect midfielder.”
Continue Reading