Wolves return to the Premier League as one of Europe’s most hated teams

Wolves return to the Premier League after a seven-year absence. However, their journey back has made them one of the most hated teams in Europe.

Wolves’ last stint in the Premier League came to an end in 2012 , a last-place finish sending them back to the Championship after three years. The drop proved painful, as they finished 23rd the subsequent season to move down to England’s third tier for the first time since the ’80s.

Over the next four years, however, the club clawed their way back up the Football League, culminating in last season’s Championship-winning campaign. They will now make their return to the top flight as one of the most hated teams in Europe. What happened?

The short answer: The team was sold. The long answer: Well.

Wolves were purchased in 2016 by Chinese investment group Fosun International. While foreign ownership is nothing new to the English game, Fosun’s relationship with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes, which went far beyond that of an agent representing players, marked a significant shift.

Several months before buying Wolves, Fosun chairman Guo Guangchang bought 20 percent of Gestifute, the agency owned by Mendes, who then helped identify Wolves as a club the Chinese group may want to purchase (working in a strictly advisory capacity, per the party line).

FA rules prohibit teams from owning stakes in agencies. The rule is designed to prevent conflicts of interest, and agents from holding any managerial power within a club. While several Championship teams raised concerns over the relationship between Wolves, Fosun and Mendes, however, they were cleared of wrongdoing because Guangchang, not Fosun, owns part of Mendes’ agency.

By exploiting this loophole, Wolves now have the support of one of the most powerful agents in Europe, who has used his influence and connections to direct players to Wolves, many of whom would probably never consider the club in other circumstances, and away from their rivals.

The arrangement has led to plenty of success, but it hasn’t always been pretty. In their first year under Fosun’s ownership, Wolves went through three managers, the longest serving of which, Paul Lambert, left at the end of the season because he was unhappy with Mendes’ influence at the club. The Scottish manager was replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo, a Mendes client.

Mendes’ influence has only grown since. Last summer, the club signed nine Portuguese players, including several Mendes clients.

Their most high-profile signing, Porto midfielder Ruben Neves, was typical of the club’s business in the Mendes era. The season prior, Neves, one of the most sought-after younger players in Europe, featured in the Champions League round of 16 against Juventus and won a the league with Porto. Somehow, Wolves were able to convince him to leave the Portuguese champions for England’s second tier. The signing led to more anger among Championship clubs, who asked how Wolves could have attracted a player of his stature.

Neves, who only turned 21 in March, was named to the Championship Team of the Season in 2017-18. His ability to control the play in midfield, while chipping in with a few goals (he got six last season), will make him one of the most intriguing players outside of the big six. Another impressive year could see him move to a much bigger side. Many fans outside of Wolverhampton, however, have found it hard to be charmed by the youngster given the details surrounding his arrival.

Little has changed this summer. Diogo Jota, who scored 18 goals on loan last season, was signed on a permanent basis, Willy Boly was brought in from Porto and two Portugal internationals, Joao Moutinho and Rui Patricio, also arrived.

Patricio’s signing in particular has damaged Wolves’ reputation in Portugal. The keeper spent 18 years with Sporting, but decided to cancel his contract after players and staff were attacked at the club’s training ground. Patricio’s decision to sign with Wolves has been heavily criticized back home, with Sporting fans suggesting he should have signed with Napoli instead and Benfica and Porto sympathetic to Sporting’s plight.

For all the off-pitch drama these signings have created, they have helped turn Nuno’s side into a formidable outfit, and one hopeful of ensuring Premier League survival on their long-awaited return to the top flight. If they can continue to improve, Mendes’ influence may become even more problematic, with Premier League stars Bernardo Silva and Nicolas Otamendi among his more high-profile clients. For now, however, Wolves fans can be forgiven for enjoying the ride.