Wolves legend Steve Bull has placed on record his thanks to Joao Moutinho, and branded the departing midfielder ‘simply world-class’.
It was confirmed by the club recently that Moutinho would be bringing to an end his time at Molineux.
Moutinho joined the club in 2018, with the club paying just £5 million to sign him from AS Monaco.
He signed as a 31-year-old and some wondered what Wolves were thinking.
But it became apparently very quickly that Moutinho was still a special player.
The star formed a terrific partnership in the midfield with Ruben Neves, and went on to enjoy five years at the club.
There is still some mystery surrounding his exit, and why he was not seen at Wolves’ last two games of the season. But he leaves with the well-wishes of the vast majority.
Steve Bull hails Joao Moutinho after amazing five years at Wolves
Moutinho was a topic in Bull’s most recent Express & Star column.
The club’s all-time top goalscorer is gutted to see Moutinho go, and even says he would have given him another 12 months.
He said: “Another player I want to wish well is Joao Moutinho. What an absolutely unbelievable player. A little dynamite.
“He has served Wolves so well and he’s a world-class player, it’s as simple as that.
“If it was up to me, I’d have probably given him another 12 months and got him to help nurture the kids coming through the ranks, and still do a job for Wolves at the same time. ‘Legend’ is a massive word for Wolves and I think you probably need to be at the club a bit longer, and win some trophies, to achieve legend status.
“But he was absolutely unbelievable. He was a bargain buy for Wolves and served the club well.”
Bull’s comments follow Dave Edwards saying Moutinho is the best player at Wolves he’s seen in his lifetime.
Since news of Moutinho’s exit, the veteran has been linked with a reunion with Nuno Espirito Santo in the Saudi Pro League.
Joao Moutinho has been amazing for Wolves – but the time is right to move on
These are some very kind words from Bull, and many Wolves fans will agree he was absolutely unbelievable for the club.
But less will agree with the part about giving him 12 more months.
Moutinho showed in his final season at Wolves that his age is starting to catch up with him.
He was far more effective being used from the bench, and the time probably was right to move on after five brilliant years.