Nuno claims he turned down Champions League offers to manage Wolverhampton Wanderers

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The former Valencia and FC Porto boss replaced Paul Lambert as Wolves manager very recently.

FC Porto coach Nuno Espirito Santo before the match

New Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo has claimed that he turned down offers from Champions League clubs in order to take over as manager of the Championship outfit, as reported by the Express and Star.

Despite being just 43, Nuno has managed Valencia and FC Porto in his managerial career to date, and took Porto to the last 16 of the Champions League in the 2016/17 season, where they lost 3-0 on aggregate to Juventus.

FC Porto’s Yacine Brahimi in action with Juventus’ Stephan Lichtsteiner

However, despite his experience in Europe’s elite and in La Liga, he’s now willingly agreed to take over a Wolves side who finished 15th in the Championship last season to try and get them back into the Premier League since they were relegated in 2012.

Speaking about his decision, Nuno claimed that he genuinely believes in what the owners have in mind at Molineux and spoke about the stature of the sides he rejected in order to take over, as well as adding that he’s been brushing up on Wolves’ history since his arrival.

General view outside the stadium before the match – Molineux

“I turned down Champions League clubs,” Nuno said, as reported by the Express and Star. “I believe in the new project. I really want to build something. When I went to Spain I said La Liga was the best, now I have to say Premier League! But I’m in the Championship. There are many teams, many games, tough competition.

“This is my reality now – it’s not the Champions League, it’s the Championship. There is a different atmosphere (in England). I believe people here are passionate about football. I expect to be part of that.

“I went to the museum yesterday and I hope I can bring the good days back. I hope I can help build a new future. This is what I am looking forward to.”

Wolves’ Dominic Iorfa and Huddersfield’s Rajiv van La Parra in action

The recruitment for the new season is already well underway at Molineux, with former Norwich City defender Ryan Bennett signing on a free transfer following his contract expiration at the Canaries, as reported by BBC Sport.

It’s highly unlikely that Bennett will be the only signing made this summer, and there will be many keen observers – both from a Wolves perspective and from afar – as to who the club bring in before the new season.