No wonder the Wolverhampton, with each signing you make, it becomes a world trend. It is already common for most of their incorporations, since 2016, to carry the same flag under them: the Portuguese. That is why it is key to rescue that, among the property of the English club, there are two united slopes: that of Fosun International, a Chinese conglomerate that is the owner after its purchase for 52 million euros; and Gestifute, Jorge Mendes' representation agency that, precisely, sold 20% to said entity.
Since then, Mendes has moved his tentacles in the Wolves of the Premier League, who in each incorporation window add at least one Portuguese footballer. Without going any further, with the millionaire transfer of Fábio Silva, the most expensive in its history, signed from Porto for 40 million (18-year-old forward who has barely played 18 games with the first team officially), up to 10 Portuguese players are registered in their squad. Eleven in the case of adding his coach, Nuno Espírito Santo. These are Rui Patricio, Roderick miranda, Ruben Vinegar, Ruben Neves, Joao moutinho, Bruno Jordao, Diogo Jota, Daniel podence, Pedro Neto and the already mentioned Fábio Silva.
This means two things. On the one hand, that outnumber players of English nationality by twice. And, on the other, something more curious, that have more Portuguese representation than ten of the teams that make up the Liga NOS (1st Division of Portugal): Famalicao, Portimonense, Boavista, Vitoria Guimaraes, Gil Vicente, Río Ave, Moreirense, Marítimo, Nacional and Farense (tied with ten). Only Porto, Benfica and Sporting Portugal “beat” them, with three more in their squads, or Sporting Braga, Belenenses, Santa Clara, Pacos Ferreira and Tondela.
So, Wolverhampton has become an exquisite shuttle for all those Portuguese players who want to try their luck in the Premier League. There are already several who have passed through its ranks such as the cases of Hélder Costa (sold for 18 million to Leeds United in Bielsa), Ivan Cavaleiro (about another 18 'kilos' to Fulham), Pedro Gonçalves, the former Atlético Silvio, Joao Teixeira … And those that remain, since, for now, it is a formula that works excellently for them.
With the input of Fosun International and Gestifute, despite failing to achieve the goal of promotion to the Premier League in his first season, the Wolves have consolidated in the noble zone of the table. It would be in 2017-18 when they ruled the Championship with an iron fist that they conquered with 99 points. Then, In their first year in the highest category of English football, they sealed a 7th place, getting their return to Europe for the first time since 1981. In the latter, 2019-20, they were on the verge of re-entering continental competitions (7th but this time without space), in addition to reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they were eliminated by the current champion, Sevilla.