Most clubs would be disappointed to lose one of their prized assets at the start of a summer transfer window. Especially a homegrown talent who, at the age of just 20, has barely even scratched the surface of his potential.
But, as Wolverhampton Wanderers seal a deal which could yet be seen as one of the best pound-for-pound signings of the off-season, the reaction from SC Braga is not one of disappointment but one of pride.
As executive director Hugo Vieira explains, Rodrigo Gomes’ £12.7 million move to Molineux is testament to years of hard work behind the scenes at Braga’s Cidade Desportiva training ground.
The first player to leave Braga and head immediately to the Premier League. And another example of the financial rewards that can be gleaned from an approach which revolves around developing youth and reinvesting the sums from their sales into the academy, Braga siezing a self-sufficient model with both hands and running with it.
Rodrigo Gomes unveiled at Molineux after Braga exit
“(Rodrigo Gomes) is the first direct sale to the Premier League,” smiles Vieira, speaking via Record. “It’s another one of the youth academy sales.
“We started this project nine years ago. The Cidade Desportiva has been around for seven. And, if we look at the sales coming from the Braga youth academy, we were recently at 172 million euros from transfers of academy players.
“We’re adding another 15 million with the sale of Rodrigo Gomes (taking the total to around £160 million).”
Gomes, a revelation on loan at Estoril last season, is now seventh in the list of Braga’s biggest ever sales. The jet-heeled wideman joins Marseille striker Vitinha, Sporting Lisbon frontman Paulinho, former Wolves loanee Francisco Trincao, and new Molineux team-mate Pedro Neto in the top ten (Transfermarkt).
“There is a different Braga after (we built) Cidade Desportiva,” Vieira adds. “There is an increase here of everything that is positive. It was an amateur structure. A group of people who did their best, but essentially an amateur project.
“Now, it is a professional structure known to everyone. A complete infrastructure, internationally recognised. Clearly, with the construction of Cidade Desportiva we have reached another level. The sales from this infrastructure have helped to provide investment to recruit players from different parts of the country.
“Kids want to play for Sporting Braga.”
Wolves first new signing this summer
Gomes, if he can emulate the impact of another Cidade Desportiva graduate in Pedro Neto, will be worth every penny of that near-£13 million fee and then some. The Portugal Under 21 international certainly shares a few things in common with Wolves’ number seven; the same searing pace and directness down the wing, and the same impressive end-product.
Gomes scored nine goals and set up eight more for Estoril in 2023/24, thriving on either flank.
“I’m delighted, especially to get one in so early,” Wolves boss Gary O’Neil beams. “He had a fantastic season last season, playing in many different positions and he’s only 20-years-old. For where we are as a club, he’s the perfect type of signing for us. He’s young and has potential.
“He’s not proven at Premier League level yet, but he’s one we definitely know we can get to that level. He’s a great character. Every time I’ve watched him, his enthusiasm and endeavour has drawn my eyes towards him, so I’m really pleased and he’s a really good signing for us.
“He’s a hungry, humble, honest, hardworking kid who is very, very talented. So, I’m delighted to get that type in as early as we have.”
O’Neil is backing Gomes to ease the burden on Neto, who endured another lengthy spell on the treatment table last term.
“He plays off the side and I like him off the outside. He’s played at full-back, at wing-back and I like him on the side of the midfield,” adds the former Bournemouth boss.
“We were unbelievably short of width last season, it was only Pedro who felt comfortable on the outside of the pitch attacking player wise, so when we were without Pedro we were stuck.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
