Last summer Wolves announced the signing of Paraguayan teenager Enso Gonzalez from Libertad, an exciting forward who’s comparable to Pedro Neto, according to Paraguayan football expert Roberto Rojas.
When Wolves announced the signing of Enso Gonzalez, not many knew the capabilities of the Paraguayan that the Old Gold had secured.
Now 19, the starlet continues to adapt to the English game after making the move from his homeland, seeing the entirety of his appearances for the Midlands side come at U21 level.
Signing the winger was certainly a plan for the future at the club, with Molineux News speaking exclusively to Paraguayan football expert Roberto Rojas on just how much of a force Gonzalez could become under Gary O’Neil.
Roberto Rojas tips Enso Gonzalez to make a breakthrough at Wolves
When quizzed about how high the Paraguay U23 star’s ceiling is, ESPN journalist Rojas gave an encouraging review on what Wolves can expect from the teen.
“I would hope to expect Enso to get some playing time under Gary O’Neil very soon, but it all depends on what him and Wolves have in store for him.”
“It is never easy for anyone to go to a different country and environment in comparison to what he had to do crossing the Atlantic from Paraguay to England, but when an opportunity arises like he did when he first joined, there is also the pressure to compete and do well, especially when chances are limited in the situation that he is in.”
“I would hope after his Pre-Olympics triumph with Paraguay to qualify for the Paris games, that it motivates him to perform at the best level possible in England.”
Recently, the academy hopeful was a celebrated figure in his homeland, scoring to send Paraguay to the Olympics for the first time in 20 years, with Rojas noting the differences he saw in Gonzalez’s game.
“He looked like a different player in the tournament in Venezuela in comparison to when he first arrived in England.”
Enso Gonzalez could one day be Wolves’ Pedro Neto successor
Dubbed a player capable of acting as a ‘pacy’ and ‘flashy’ goalscorer, Rojas likened the Paraguayan to one of O’Neil’s key players, Pedro Neto, detailing how the 19-year-old could one day fit in at Molineux.
“I think he has that pace and awareness to beat players in tight spaces, he’s unpredictable in his one-on-ones. I do compare his playing style to that of Neto.”
“In a perfect world, he’d be Neto’s like-for-like replacement.”
“I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon unless he drastically improves and impresses O’Neil in the next few weeks and months, but I think the way they attack would work well if played best on the wing moving around the space by being able to link up with his fellow attacking players.”
Rojas’ comparison between Neto and Gonzalez is traceable in some statistics gathered during the teenager’s 2023 Copa Libertadores features.
As per FBref, the Paraguayan averaged a mammoth 4.44 successful take-ons per 90 in the tournament, as well as producing an average of 0.95 successful take-ons leading to a shot attempt per 90.
The early signs are encouraging when it comes to Gonzalez, who despite being a raw and developing talent, has the world at his feet playing in a Premier League academy.
There has been talk of late to speculate that the 19-year-old could be sent on loan next season, a move that could prove to be pivotal in his journey towards the Old Gold’s first team.