Wolves have made several clever signings of late. However, one move that didn’t come off was the 2021 arrival of Francisco Trincao.
Joining on loan from Spanish giants Barcelona, Trincao arrived at Molineux to much fanfare.
The Portuguese, however, would ultimately fail to live up to the hype, with then-manager Bruno Lage hinting he wanted more from Trincao during his spell at the club.
Following the expiration of his loan, the Wolves hierarchy would decide against making the attacker’s loan move permanent, despite tipping the player for big things only 12 months prior.
Wolves expected big things from Francisco Trincao
Now, four years on from his Wolves exit, Trincao is thriving at Sporting CP back in his homeland.
The 25-year-old’s resurgence in Lisbon has even attracted interest from Premier League clubs, with Arsenal said to be eyeing Trincao this summer.
Having blossomed since his Molineux departure, it seems like Wolves always expected big things from the Portuguese.
| Francisco Trincao stats | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Wolves | 30 | 3 | 1 |
Speaking on Trincao’s arrival, then-Wolves Technical Director Scott Sellars tipped the attacker for success.
“He’s a really exciting player. It’s an area we’d like more competition, in terms of wide players. I think the fans are going to enjoy watching him play, he drives with the ball well and has good creativity,” Sellars told the Wolves website.
“We’ve watched him a lot, especially over the last couple of months, so he’s been on our radar for quite a while. He’s got loads of quality – signing for Barcelona from Braga shows what potential he’s got. He’s 21 and has played quite a lot of games in La Liga, so we think he’s ready for the Premier League.
“He’s a player who drifts past people and he has a great change of direction when he’s moving with the ball. He has great speed over two or three yards, to change direction and get away from people, can score and create, and is an exciting player.”
Trincao in line for blockbuster move
When it comes to Trincao’s future, the Gunners aren’t the only English outfit chasing his signature.
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim reportedly wants Trincao at Old Trafford, having previously managed the attacker while in Lisbon.
| Francisco Trincao stats | Apps | Goals | Assists |
| Sporting CP | 154 | 34 | 33 |
Mancunian rivals Man City are also interested in Trincao as Pep Guardiola looks to rebuild his attack ahead of next season.
If the Portuguese does in fact land back in the Premier League this summer, it’s fair to say the Wolves hierarchy will be left with egg on their faces.