Wolves braced for captain exit, homecoming saga looms | OneFootball

Vítor Pereira, the former Flamengo manager now at the helm of Wolves, is weighing up key changes as he enters his second season in England. One of his main concerns is the future of Nelson Semedo, the Wolves captain and a critical figure under Pereira this past campaign. With Semedo’s contract running out, rumors have intensified about a return to Benfica, the club that launched the right-back’s professional career.

Speaking at an event in Cascais, Pereira addressed the speculation: “Nelson knows exactly what we want, he’s our captain, a player who helped a lot to unite the group, on and off the pitch. The club has already made a renewal offer; we’ll see what happens.” He added that the club’s priority is replacing quality with quality if Semedo moves on: “I don’t worry about who leaves, but about bringing in the right replacements. If Nelson goes, we need someone to guarantee us quality and competitiveness. It probably wouldn’t be another captain, since they’d be new, but it’s essential to maintain our standard.”

Semedo, now 31, joined Wolves from Barcelona in September 2020 and has become a mainstay, with 182 appearances, three goals, and 11 assists for the club. Last season, he featured in 38 matches across all competitions. Benfica, widely reported to be interested, offers the potential for an emotional homecoming. After Wolves’ final Premier League fixture, Semedo acknowledged the links: “There’s interest from Benfica for me to come back. I was happy there, it’s the club of my heart, so returning would be good for those reasons. But I haven’t decided yet; I need to sit with my family and make a decision with my head, not my heart.”

Pereira’s start in the Premier League has been challenging, with Wolves finishing 16th, and another key player, Matheus Cunha, is reportedly close to joining Manchester United.

Meanwhile, another notable Flamengo alumnus—attacker Vitinho—is now a free agent after departing Saudi club Al-Ettifaq. The 31-year-old, who left Flamengo in 2022 after five trophy-laden years, completed 65 games, 12 goals, and 10 assists in the Middle East since arriving in August 2022. Al-Ettifaq issued a social message thanking him: “Our star Vitinho, thank you for everything.”

Vitinho has attracted significant interest, especially from Brazil, though the names of the clubs remain under wraps. His current salary was reported at €3 million per year. During his Flamengo spell, Vitinho played 215 matches, scoring 29 goals and collecting a Libertadores title, two national league championships, two domestic Supercups, one Recopa, and three state championships.

These moves and uncertainties underscore the continued influence of Flamengo’s alumni abroad, with their careers offering potential twists during the current transfer window.

Source: Lance