Vitor Pereira has suggested that Wolves have a player who is just as important as Matheus Cunha.
Cunha has been a game-changing influence at Wolves throughout the season, but soon, Pereira will be without his star forward.
As the summer transfer window fast approaches, the Brazilian’s time at Molineux is ticking down, with Cunha set to leave Wolves amid speculation.
Being a player with 21 goal contributions in the Premier League this season, the 25-year-old will be a big loss, but Pereira won’t be losing sleep over the matter.
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Vitor Pereira stresses Andre’s importance in the Wolves squad
Wolves have proven they can cope without Cunha, going four games unbeaten during the Brazil international’s suspension.
For all of the goals and assists that the former Atletico Madrid ace provides, he’s not thought to be Wolves’ most important player, as Pereira himself recently suggested.
Speaking to the media with the end of the season in sight, the Wolves manager drew attention to Andre, lauding the midfielder as one of the Old Gold’s most important players.
“In our team, Andre is the balance, he’s the player that should connect the defenders with the attack,” Pereira said, via Express and Star.
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“He needs to be intelligent, not to lose his position, because if he loses his position, we’ll lose the balance. He’s a tactical player, a technical player and intelligent.”
The Portuguese coach went on to single Andre’s importance out, heralding the summer signing’s intelligence in maintaining balance.
“He’s a top player in my opinion. Andre is important for us because he keeps the balance of the team.
“When we have the ball, he needs to be aware, to be organised, to be balanced in the moment that we will lose the ball and is a player to connect the sectors, to switch the play, and to be intelligent, to play in that position, and that’s what I’m asking him to do.”
Andre has been praised highly in his debut season in the Premier League, making Pereira’s opinion rather unsurprising.
Wolves struck gold with Andre
Wolves have shown everyone that they can tick without Cunha, but Pereira has hinted that he has reservations regarding how his squad would cope without Andre.
Because of the Brazilian’s exemplary presence in midfield, Pereira has found it difficult to include Tommy Doyle and Boubacar Traore, who simply can’t replicate what the 23-year-old does.
Statistic Per 90 average Rank in Premier League
Pass completion % 92.7% Top 2%
Tackles 3.39 Top 8%
Tackles won 2.04 Top 8%
Recoveries 7.20 Top 4%
Switches 0.58 Top 8%
Andre compared to Premier League midfielders in 2024/25 – FBref
Alongside Joao Gomes, Andre has presented Wolves with a midfield pivot that rarely puts a foot wrong, as the numbers show.
It’s rare that a player arrives from abroad and performs at the level the midfielder has in his debut campaign, despite Andre’s early struggles after his transfer from Fluminense.
Performing as one of the Premier League’s best in his role, Wolves uncovered a gold mine with Andre, who is destined to become a great under Pereira’s guidance.