Vitinha is gearing up for a Champions League final in PSG colours against Inter Milan, and Conor Coady has looked back on his career at Wolves.
Wolves signed Vitinha on loan for the 2020/21 season, with the Portuguese star playing under Nuno Espirito Santo in his final campaign in charge.
It wasn’t easy for the midfielder to adapt to English football, as Vitinha often struggled with the training intensity and made just 19 Premier League appearances under Nuno.
Vitinha famously scored his only goal for Wolves in an FA Cup tie against Chorley, a long-range thunderbolt that showcased his talent from outside the box.
But former boss Nuno claimed Joao Moutinho stopped Vitinha from progressing at Wolves, and that is a similar verdict offered by Conor Coady.
Photo by Tim Clayton via Getty Images
Photo by Tim Clayton via Getty Images
Conor Coady says Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho stopped Vitinha playing regularly
Now the 25-year-old is one of the best midfielders on the planet, it’s unsurprising that pundits such as Rio Ferdinand are laughing at Wolves for not signing Vitinha for £17 million in 2021.
But during that time, incoming manager Bruno Lage had the remarkable midfield duo of Moutinho and Ruben Neves to select from.
It was going to take something special to dislodge that duo from their starring roles in the middle of the park, and that is why perhaps why they snubbed the Portuguese maestro.
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Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Vitinha’s Champions League final clash against Inter Milan, former captain Coady recalls that the ‘incredible’ partnership of Moutinho and Neves was the main reason for Vitinha’s struggles.
“You always knew he was champing at the bit to play. Sometimes, young midfielders who come over and have players like Moutinho and Neves in front of them, they just kind of get on with it thinking their time will come. He was dying to play, desperate,” Coady said.
“It was important for someone like me, like the other lads in the dressing room, Joao and Ruben, just to keep him going. I am still the same now, whether you are captain or whether you are not, you try to make sure people feel welcome. And we did.
“But he was never a bad person to have around. He is a great example for others. It was so tough for him at Wolves because you had two incredible players in front of him and he was obviously only a young lad. But just look what he is doing now.”
Vitinha’s incredible Champions League stats
After being snubbed by Wolves, Vitinha has gone from strength to strength in the Champions League, and he’s arguably been the competition’s standout midfielder.
Prince William was left ‘impressed’ by Vitinha against Aston Villa in April after their quarter-final defeat to the French side, with his incredible performances warranting all the praise in the world.
Vitinha’s 2024/25 per 90 Champions League stats
93% pass completion
6.37 progressive passes
1.46 successful take-ons
1.33 interceptions
8.03 passes into final third
2.65 carries into final third
Stats via FBref correct as of 31/05/2025
Vitinha has been compared to Luka Modric, and he can follow in the footsteps of the Real Madrid legend by lifting the Champions League on Saturday night.