WOLVES fired a parting blast at Manchester City bound midfielder Matheus Nunes and told their record £53million departure: We’re better off without you.
The Brazilian could have left with the best wishes of the Molineux club after Wolves raked in a club record fee for the 25-year-old – including 10 per cent of any future sell-on profit City might make on him.
Manchester City have completed the signing of Matheus Nunes
The midfielder forced a move away from Wolves
City have left it late but they have managed to secure Nunes on deadline day.
The Portuguese has signed a five-year deal and becomes the club’s fourth summer signing.
Nunes said upon the announcement of his transfer: “I’m so happy to be joining Manchester City, the Champions of Europe and a clubI’ve admired for a long time.
“The opportunity to work under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest managers ever, and alongside some of the best players in the world was something I simply couldn’t turn down.
“I learned so much during my season at Wolves and I’m excited to continue improving in the Premier League, a division which brings the best out of me. I’m really excited to get going, meet the fans and hopefully be a part of plenty more success at City.”
Nunes, 25, only recently transferred from Sporting Lisbon to Wolves last summer, but in an effort to speed up the process, he refused to workout.
The contentious move by Nunes to quit his job and go on strike in the last week of the transfer window has soured relations at his old team.
Wolves’ Sporting director Matt Hobbs admitted: “I was disappointed with how it ended, it wasn’t necessary the stance Matheus took.
“We ended with a good resolution for everyone.
“Matheus is a hugely talented player but would admit that last season he didn’t hit the heights he expected, but it was a tough season for the team, so maybe he wasn’t allowed to do that.”
Privately Wolves are seething that Nunes felt very disapointed, after they backed him and invested a club record fee to land him.
They paid Sporting an initial £38million plus £4.2million in add-ons to give the Brazilian his big break in the Premier League and a chance to impress
Wolves are set to replace Nunes by signing Tommy Doyle on loan from City, whose deal will include a £5m option to buy.
Hobbs claims that bit of business has left Wolves stronger without Nunes.
He said: “We’ve lost a player with a lot of potential, a lot of ability, but the situation has led to us bringing a greater number of players in to improve the squad and provide competition in the group.
“The players here want competition in training, so while we’ve lost a good player, it’s made us a more competitive and better squad overall.”
Should they trigger this option, City will then have a huge 50 per cent sell-on clause in any future sale for the midfielder
Wolves will pay Doyle’s entire salary during the loan.
The Citizens have also agreed to a deadline day sale of Cole Palmer, who has joined Chelsea for £42.5m..