“I’m glad to announce that he will be joining us before next season”- Victor Pereira confirmed Wolves squad to be joined by ‘astonishing’ talent
‘Next season he’ll be with us’ – Vitor Pereira confirms Wolves squad to be joined by ‘special’ talent
Vitor Pereira is excited about a huge talent joining up with the Wolves first team.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira has confirmed recent debutant Mateus Mane will join up with the first team properly from the start of pre-season, with 2025/26 pencilled in as a breakthrough campaign.
Mane came on as a late substitute for a few precious minutes at the end of Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, making his Premier League debut. The 17-year-old replaced knackered defensive midfielder Andre and received a huge standing ovation from the Molineux faithful, who have 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 this clash with Brighton. It’s been a great opportunity for the teenager to build up his first-team experience, even if he hasn’t been handed any minutes until now.
As Mane’s appearance against Brighton was so short, he didn’t have the chance to make much of an impact. He still managed to have six touches and complete four passes, though, and he won one defensive aerial duel. In truth, it wouldn’t have really mattered if Mane didn’t touch the ball, as the experience of coming on for his first Premier League minutes would’ve been more than sufficient
Pereira has revealed he didn’t just bring Mane on for the experience, however, with the decision tactical as he sought some attacking impetus late on in the game. With Andre exhausted and nothing to lose with Wolves 2-0 down, it made sense to bring on the more forward-minded Mane in his place.
“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’s 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 appearances for Wolves at youth level.
