Former Wolves hero Dave Edwards said it best.
When confidence is coursing through Francisco Trincao’s veins, the Barcelona loanee is some player. A lavishly-talented forward capable of producing mesmerising, game-changing contributions with one flick of his wand-ish left boot.
Unfortunately, moments like his stunning strike in Saturday’s Stamford Bridge fightback have been few and far between in his Molineux career.
“Trincao was terrific,” Edwards tells the Express and Star. “He’s been so hit and miss this year but when he gets it right he’s a fine player.”
With Wolves’ Chinese owners tightening the purse strings and going down the ‘self-sustainability’ route, £25 million is just too much for a footballer who tends to veer dramatically from the awesome to the anonymous, often without warning.
According to A Bola, Wolverhampton Wanderers have already informed Barcelona that they will not be triggering the £25 million release clause in Trincao’s contract. That does not mean the prancing Portuguese international won’t be playing Premier League football in 2022/23, however.
Mundo Deportivo claim that Leeds United may be tempted by the prospect of handing Trincao a second stab at English football, as part of the deal that would see Raphinha join Barcelona and put a typically toothy smile on Ronaldinho’s face.
Much depends on whether Jesse Marsch’s motivational tactics are enough to stick a proverbial rocket up Elland Road backsides, of course. Leeds are staring those Tuesday night trips to Preston North End, Reading and Bristol City in the face.
But, regardless of what division Leeds find themselves in next term, finding a replacement for Raphinha is likely to be one of the first tasks on Marsch’s summer to-do list.
Barcelona want Raphinha from Leeds United
According to Catalan publication Sport, Raphinha will attempt to ‘force’ through a move to Barcelona, even if Marsch does end up performing a convincing Bryan Robson impression on May 22nd, popping champagne in West London.
Trincao may lack Raphinha’s consistency – even if Leeds’ number 10 has struggled to make an impression week-in, week-out recently. But it should not be forgotten that he is three years Raphinha’s junior. And not quite as far along in his footballing journey.
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That wonderful individual goal against Chelsea, curled into the top corner, was the sort of finish Raphinha has made his trademark at Elland Road. Trincao would have left a positive impression on Marsch back in March too, producing the best performance of his otherwise frustrating Wolves spell in that dramatic 3-2 defeat to Leeds; scoring one, setting up another and rattling the bar with a 30-yard thunderbolt.
Trincao is no Raphinha. Not yet at least. But his match-changing cameo against Chelsea is proof that, like Leeds’ seemingly wantaway Brazilian, there’s no such thing as a lost cause with Trincao on the pitch.
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