Former Wolves defender Fernado Marcal has lavished praise on Francisco Trincao, who is starting to flourish over in Portugal with Sporting CP.
Marcal has given an interview with Portuguese outlet A Bola, and had some very kind words for the former Molineux loanee.
Trincao spent the whole of 2021/22 on loan with Wolves.
Many fans were elated when his signing was announced. It came rather out of the blue, and the general consensus was that the club had done brilliantly well to get him in. The club also negotiated an option to buy for £25 million.
But frustratingly, Trincao just never really set the world alight.
He had a handful of good games. His performance against Leeds United back in March 2022 that saw him score and assist was perhaps his best outing.
But all too often, Trincao frustrated. He seemed to struggle with the physicality of the league, and often failed to produce in the final third.
In the end, Wolves did not exercise their buy option, and he then returned to Barcelona briefly before embarking on another loan spell, this time with Sporting.
So far this term Trincao has scored 12 goals and made three assists in 48 appearances in total. He’s been finding his feet back in his native Portugal, and Marcal has spoken very highly of him.
He told A Bola: “He’s exceptional. He is one of those footballers who can decide a game at any time, with whom you can win championships. He decides a game at any time and can be the star of the team without a doubt.
“Already adapted to Sporting, to work with Ruben (Amorim), I am sure that next season will come more fine-tuned and will bring many joys to the fans.
“He needs confidence and attention and I’ve noticed that Ruben has given that. I may be talking too much, but at the end of the season, still at Wolves, he told me that Ruben had called him, talked to him, and that he was counting on him. This care of the coach began before he arrived at Sporting. That’s why he made the decision to return to Portugal. He’s going to make a difference next season, he’s already done it this season, but he can give a lot more.”
Big praise from Marcal for Trincao but Wolves were right not to exercise their option to buy
This is quite a verdict from Marcal.
There is no denying Trincao is a very talented player. But perhaps he simply wasn’t cut out for the Premier League. Some players just aren’t.
Wolves were correct not to trigger their buy option on Trincao. He had simply not shown enough, and it would have been a risk.
It would certainly have been interesting to see what he would have been like under Julen Lopetegui.
But Wolves are fine without him.