The Spain head coach had agreed to take over at Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to compatriot Guillem Balague.
Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui had “agreed everything” to take over at Wolverhampton Wanderers, according to Sky Sports‘ pundit Guillem Balague.
The claim, made during a Q & A session on Friday, substantiates comments made by Lopetegui upon taking the national team post in July.
“I had an agreement with an English team but Spain appeared and there was nothing more for me,” he said, as quoted by the Express & Star.
Balague, though, says things went even further than that, with Lopetegui identifying potential transfer targets as he awaited completion of the Championship side’s takeover by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International.
Asked for his thoughts on the former Porto chief’s appointment, the Revista de La Liga presenter replied: “Julen Lopetegui had agreed everything with Wolves, was going there, and the Chinese consortium made him believe it was going to happen, but it slowed down so much that the Spanish federation took advantage and gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“He had analysed Wolves, all the players, suggested names to sign, but it didn’t happen.”
He added: “What you’ve got with Lopetegui is all the good qualities (predecessor Vicente) Del Bosque had – everyone likes him, he speaks well and is a football brain – but he also understands the tactical requirements of a team with a lot of midfielders, and that wants possession.”
Having missed out on Lopetegui, Wolves turned to former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga with the club’s sale successful.
And the 56-year-old, whose squad was bolstered by 13 new signings, is yet to taste defeat since moving to Molineux.
Since taking over, Fosun have enlisted the help of super agent Jorge Mendes, who has brokered deals for ambitious recruits such as Silvio (Atletico de Madrid), Helder Costa (SL Benfica) and Ivan Cavaleiro – a club-record purchase from AS Monaco last week.
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