Lyon president explains why £15m Joao Gomes turned them down for Wolves

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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas admits £15 million midfielder Joao Gomes chose a move to Premier League outfit Wolves instead during the January transfer window, speaking to RMC Sport. 

12 months since his departure to Newcastle United, the absence of Bruno Guimaraes continues to hang like a black cloud over an OL side limping along in mid-table. 

And their hopes of filling a Guimaraes-shaped void with another up-and-coming Brazilian talent went up in smoke once it became apparent that 21-year-old Gomes had his heart set on Julen Lopetegui’s Wolverhampton Wanderers outfit. 

Lyon, FootMercato say, were willing to offer Gomes a higher salary than he would take home at Molineux. The Copa Libertadores winner quickly made it clear, however, that his ‘dream’ was the Premier League. 

“Bruno (Cheyrou, chief scout) had made a number of contacts,” Aulas explains. “We on the verge of success with Joao. But he had already given his agreement to an English club.” 

Wolves beat Lyon to Flamengo starlet Joao Gomes

Wolves eventually stumped up £15 million for Gomes; linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen before arriving in the Black Country. Gomes, who will wear the number 35 shirt, could make his Old Gold debut against Liverpool this weekend. 

“Joao is a good choice for the club,” Lopetegui tells the BBC. “For the present and the future. He’s a young player. Obviously, he has just arrived here, and he has to adapt to the English football environment. 

“In Brazil, they are more or less in pre-season so it is a different moment for the player. Now, we have to put him in the same way as the rest of the players, as soon as possible. He is ready. We will see if he is chosen (to play against Liverpool) or not.” 

Lopetegui is understandably delighted, meanwhile, to see one of South America’s best young midfielders opt for Wolves ahead of a Lyon side who have become regulars in European competition over the last two decades. 

“It’s a good thing that the player wanted to come here,” the former Real Madrid coach adds. “I think it’s a good choice for him to be here with us and try to improve himself, while helping us.”