Wolves have seen some star talent come and go over the years, with some having more of an impact than others.
Vitor Pereira’s current squad plays host to superstars such as Matheus Cunha and Joao Gomes, with the duo some of the new wave of heroes at Molineux.
Rewind to Nuno Espirito Santo’s era and some Wolves icons appear, with few players as adored in the West Midlands than Ruben Neves.
The former captain was one of the pioneers behind the Old Gold’s success under Nuno, where several ensured their names would be remembered at Molineux forever.
Joao Moutinho ‘deserved more’ from his career
When mentioning Neves’ time at Wolves, it’s impossible to not think of Joao Moutinho, who was Nuno’s metronome in midfield.
The former Monaco ace aged like fine wine in the Premier League, bidding farewell to Molineux in 2023 after five memorable years in England.
While Moutinho is still referenced at Wolves today as something of a hero, some in the game believe that the ex-Portugal international actually deserved more recognition over the years.
Retired Portuguese winger, Ukra, crossed paths with Moutinho at Porto and recently sat down with O Jogo to discuss the midfielder’s career.
“He deserved more attention and recognition, despite his great career and the great clubs he played for,” Ukra said before mentioning Wolves.
“I know he was French champion at Monaco, played with Bernardo Silva and Mbappe, played in the best league in the world, the English one, at Wolverhampton, but I believe he should have reached one of the big leagues in Europe.
“One of those with other weight on the international stage. He deserved it, and that would bring another global dimension, playing for bigger goals.”
Moutinho made a resounding impact everywhere he went, with his contract at Braga set to expire in the summer.
With 146 caps for his country and 893 domestic appearances at the time of writing, every club the midfielder represented thinks fondly of the player, leading the likes of Ukra to explore whether Moutinho deserved even higher praise.
Moutinho’s record at Wolves
Pereira is in the process of unearthing his own Moutinho, as Andre has been compared to the midfielder amid his recent rise at Wolves.
While the 23-year-old is showing great signs, it will take some time for the Brazilian to catch up with the veteran star’s record at the club.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 212 | 5 | 25 |
In 212 appearances for Wolves, the Portugal international contributed to 30 goals, scoring five himself and assisting his teammates 25 times.
The midfielder was known for far more than his ability to contribute in the final third, being a player capable of dictating a game from the middle of the park.
Now 38, Moutinho will be thinking of the next steps of his career, with no plans to call time on his playing days just yet.