Former Valencia coach Jose Bordalas is happy to see the La Liga giants make £27 million from the sale of Goncalo Guedes to Premier League strugglers Wolves, speaking to Plaza Deportivo.
It sort of summed up how life at Molineux has gone for the Portugal international.
You would probably expect a £27 million forward to slice through League Two defences like a knife through room temperature Lurpack but, as Wolverhampton Wanderers limped to a 2-0 win over Gillingham in the Carabao Cup, Guedes once again looked like a shadow of the player who produced 17 goals and assists in La Liga last season.
The one-time PSG winger just hasn’t got going as a Wolves player.
On current form, Valencia certainly seem to have got the better of a deal which saw Guedes become the latest Jorge Mendes client to end up at Molineux for big money.
Wolves signed Goncalo Guedes from La Liga giants Valencia
“He is a magnificent player,” argues Bordalas; the ex-Getafe boss having got the best out of Guedes during their time together at the Mestalla last term.
“You have to understand him. I always try to put myself in the player’s place. If we are able to get the player to perform at the highest level, the player will be happy. The club wins and so does the player.
“Guedes was revalued. And, fortunately, this year the club has been able to sell him. Thanks to his commitment and effort, we were able to get him to have a great season.”
In 12 Premier League appearances, Guedes has scored just one goal and provided one assist in Old Gold. As such, one of the first tasks in Julen Lopetegui’s in-tray will be to get the explosive 26-year-old producing the sort of match-winning displays he made his trademark during a fabulous final season at Valencia.
Wolves, meanwhile, are closing in on a big-money deal for another La Liga forward.
Matheus Cunha is arriving on loan from Atletico Madrid; Los Colchoneros coach Diego Simeone admitting that a deal is close to completion.
“Cunha is at a point of departure. (He is) almost about to sign with his new club,” Simeone explains.
“He’s a boy who gave us everything he had. We gave him everything we had. And either one was able to contribute the best of each other.”
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