A player who was let go by Wolves last year has been spotted watching Gary O’Neil’s squad training in Miami.
O’Neil and his players are now in the US for the second phase of their pre-season, after recently getting back from Marbella.
O’Neil took 29 players out to the South of Spain for some intense training, and also watched them in a game against Como 1907. They then returned to Compton Park briefly, and had another training game against Bristol City.
Goncalo Guedes was a surprise feature in that game, and the winger has now flown out to the US for the next part of the club’s pre-season.
Wolves will now be stepping things up, with games to come against Premier League opposition. It’s West Ham United on Saturday, followed by Crystal Palace and then RB Leipzig.
These will be some really good tests, and hopefully, O’Neil can experiment with a few things over the next couple of weeks.
The players touched down in the States yesterday and have been training for the first time this morning – and an old Wolves face has been spotted at Wolves’ base.
Former Molineux striker Leonardo Campana watches Wolves training in Miami
It has been reported by journalist Nathan Judah on X that Leonardo Campana has been present at Wolves’ first training session today to watch his old side.
Campana left Wolves in January 2023 to join Inter Miami permanently. He had joined them on loan in January 2022.
Wolves picked Campana up from Barcelona SC (an Ecuadorian side not to be confused with the Spanish giants) back in 2020.
He never actually made an appearance for Wolves’ first-team, and had loan spells with Farmalicao and Grasshoppers before heading to the States.
Campana made a good impression while on loan at Inter Miami, with the MLS club turning his move permanent.
Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said at the time (Inter Miami official): “His development since arriving at the Club a year ago has been fantastic and we’re confident that he will continue to grow as he helps Inter Miami work towards a successful season competing in three competitions in 2023 and beyond.”
It didn’t work out for Campana at Wolves
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Campana was talked up by then-Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo shortly after his arrival.
He said of the Ecuador international while at a warm weather camp in Marbella in February 2020: “It’s about progressing and improving him, and turning him into a good option for us. He’s working well.
“He’s a good player. Hopefully, you can see for yourself, but I think that he’s a good option. He’s a good back-up to have. He’s a player that we want to improve and make better.”
But the chance never came for Campana, who was then shipped out to Farmalicao for the 2020/21 season.
He seems to have settled now at Inter Miami, scoring 28 goals in 87 appearances for the franchise owned by David Beckham.