Raul Jimenez filled a role he wasn’t supposed to at Benfica but it could be a dream one for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Jimenez becomes the latest player managed by ‘super agent’ Jorge Mendes to arrive at Molineux and does so having not set the world alight in Portugal.
Neither did he manage to do so in Spain with Atletico Madrid – in fact, his goal record since moving to Europe has been subpar, scoring just the once in 21 La Liga games and never managing more than seven in Liga NOS.
But things were difficult in Benfica as the lead role up top is always going to be the incredible Jonas, whose scoring rate over the last two seasons would have kept out virtually any striker in the planet.
Jimenez found himself struggling for starts behind the Brazilian who scored 34 goals in just 30 league games, leaving the Mexican to make 29 of his appearances this year from the bench.
And so, naturally, that’s where he got his goals and assists from this season, notching four league goals and five assists as a substitute.
Those aren’t numbers that will blow anyone away but it does suggest that Jimenez can play a very interesting role for Wolves, even if he doesn’t assert himself in the starting lineup.
If Wolves have found a player they can rely on to make an impact from the bench up to ten times a season, they’ll have something that most Premier League sides don’t have, let alone newly promoted ones.
The ideal situation here is that Jimenez thrives as a starting player, racking up goals and proving Benfica wrong for doubting him, although it does look more likely that he’ll play a squad role at an ambitious Wolves.
But that’s okay – more than okay, really, as having that kind of player in your arsenal is few and far between at this level. It could just prove to be Wolves’ secret weapon.
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