Former Wolves striker Rafa Mir ready to step up as main man for Sevilla

Former Wolves striker Rafa Mir is relishing the prospect of being Sevilla’s main man whilst some of his attacking team mates are unavailable.

The 24-year-old already has seven goals for the La Liga side after securing a summer switch from the Black Country.

As well as scoring his first Champions League goal, the man who has an Olympic hat-trick to his name scored four goals in five La Liga games, earlier in the campaign.

Although he already has 17 starts to his name so far this season, the Murcian has had to assume the role of Sevilla’s starting striker because of Youssef En-Nesyri’s injury.

His adaptation period has accelerated and in January he must not only replace the club’s number 15, but also Munir El Haddadi who leaves for the African Cup of Nations.

Until reinforcements arrive, Rafa Mir will be the only striker in Julen Lopetegui’s first team.

But in an interview with COPE Network, via Marca, Mir felt he was still going through a ‘period of adaptation’ at a ‘great’ club.

The Spanish striker felt that he has been learning and improving ‘after many changes’, and the number of injuries the Europa League side has suffered from has meant he has had to ‘deliver’ more.

Reflecting on the start to his Sevilla career, Mir said: “It’s a change I wanted. I have looked for it. Keep growing and moving forward. I have taken it with the utmost enthusiasm.

“It has been a period of adaptation that everyone has to fulfil in their work. I have had good feelings, I am very happy and I want to show the footballer I have inside.

“I have a lot more inside to take out.“

Mir spoke about his summer exit from Wolves last month and it always looked unlikely that he would stay at Molineux, especially when he was going into the final year of his contract.

That situation prompted Wolves to cash in for a reported £13.7 million (The Athletic).

After moving to Wolves from Valencia in 2018, he only went on to play four times for the club.

The Spaniard enjoyed an excellent campaign on loan at La Liga side Huesca last season, netting 13 goals as the club were relegated.

But it was a timely reminder of the potential he possessed and in the summer he won silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo as Spain lost to Brazil in the final.

Having won the European Under-21 Championships in 2019, Mir is back on home soil and looks to be thriving.

Wolves are no worst of without Mir and it looks like the amicable move has suited all parties.

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